Lions Club fundraiser helps needy children

With every purchase of lunch Saturday, customers at the Farmington Lions Club Barbecue helped children get glasses.

The club held its fundraiser at the former BP station in the Walmart parking lot in Farmington. Among the items for sale were barbecued pork steaks, brats and hot dogs.

“One hundred percent of our proceeds goes to helping others,” Keith Castleberry said. “Our main goal is to get eyeglasses  for underprivileged children.”

Money raised by the Lions Club goes to pay for eye doctor visits and glasses to Parkland area children who are referred to the organization by service agencies, Willis Johnson explained. Each referred child gets an exam to be sure that glasses are needed. Then, the club buys a pair of glasses for the child. Contacts are not part of the program, however.

During the year, the club also collects old eyeglasses. Those glasses are sent out of the country to be matched up with children who have vision problems.

“This is a pure community service organization,” Mike Gann said.

Men and women who are interested in joining the organization may call Gann at 573-768-0980 or attend a meeting, held at 7 a.m. every Tuesday at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center’s cafeteria.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.