Over the past five years, the Ridgefield Lions Club has raised $10,675 for the Lions Sight Foundation of Clark County (LSFOCC), a nonprofit dedicated to providing vital vision care for low-income residents.
The LSFOCC, created in 1952 by volunteers representing the Lions Clubs of Southwest Washington, has provided nearly 600 service vouchers for eyeglasses, eye exams and related services over the past three years, valued at $72,771, a press release by the Ridgefield Lions Club stated.
These vouchers, made possible through partnerships with local eye care providers, help cover essential care that many low-income residents would otherwise forgo due to high costs or lack of insurance, the press release stated.
“Eyeglasses are expensive. The average cost of prescription glasses is approximately $300,” the press release stated. “Without this amazing team of medical professionals, the Sight Foundation would only be able to help a fraction of the individuals needing assistance.”
LSFOCC is primarily funded through charitable foundations, with additional funding from the Lions Clubs of Clark County and private donations. About 95% of all donated funds go directly to providing basic vision care within low-income communities, the release stated.
Clark County residents seeking aid through LSFOCC must be Clark County residents for 12 months, have low income and have no other funding sources. Applications, available online at shorturl.at/y1lzX, may be submitted every two years, the release stated.
The Ridgefield Lions Club supports multiple vision-related programs in Clark County, such as Leader Dogs for the Blind and in-school vision screening. Like the other organizations, LSFOCC aligns with the club’s community goals, the press release stated.
“The Sight Foundation is really right down the plate for what Lions stands for, and we’re happy to be able to help the organization,” Ridgefield Lions President Josh Olson stated in the press release. Olson also serves on the LSFOCC board.
The Ridgefield Lions Club is open to new members and welcomes community-spirited individuals interested in improving the community through LSFOCC and other projects. To learn more about the club and its service projects, visit ridgefieldlions.org.