Sarah Ebeling | Managing Editor
“On a mission to serve.” That is how the Colton Lions Club’s definition can be summed up. The volunteer members are passionate and committed to the community and to serving others.
The group’s focus is on eyes and eye health. They, along with other Lions Clubs recycle eyeglasses and hearing aids and educate people about eyes.
Colton Lions Secretary Kate Justice explained that one way their group helps educate people is through the Kid Vision Van for eye screening. She noted that workers do not diagnose but the screenings look for potential vision problems and they refer people to any eye doctor for further evaluation.
“The eye screening will check vision and if not 20/20, they can refer them to an eye doctor,” said Justice.
She noted there is no cost associated with the screening.
The local club also has multiple drop-off sites with recycling containers for glasses and hearing aids. Once collected, the items go to the Lions Foundation and then are refurbished and forwarded to eye programs for the needy.
Justice was quick to explain that one feature of the Colton Lions Club is that all proceeds stay local, allowing them to do things such as park improvements such as purchasing fence padding for the Colton ball field and donate time and money to the Colton Library.
The group also assists with scholarships for swimming passes to the Colton pool along with assisting with funding requests for both eye glasses and hearing aids in conjunction with other agencies.
“The money is raised locally and distributed locally and we are always looking for opportunities to serve the children in the community,” said Justice.
An annual project the group works on is funding transportation to Safety Town in Dell Rapids. The event is designed to educate four-year-olds on pedestrian and bicycle safety. They also donate to the Tri-Valley Angle Tree every year.
The group, which meets the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Colton Public Library, is looking for new members to join them. The diverse group, which have volunteers who range in age from 35-85, often has guest speakers and potlucks at the hour long meeting.
“Caring people who want to serve the community are needed and welcome,” said Justice.