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Eye assistance programs
The Lions Club was tasked by Helen Keller to assist with eye health back in 1925. The Danbury Lions Club is committed to helping those in Danbury who qualify.
As of 2016, the Danbury Lions has helped to screen the eyes of our elementary school children in the Danbury Public Schools. We use a special camera to screen children in pre-K, K, 1, 3, 4 and 5th grades. In the 2017-18 school year, we also added the parochial schools. Our club only screens the children in Danbury.
For adults, the Gift of Sight program provides eye exams, lenses and frames to people who meet specific criteria. Services are provided based on a person’s situation and level of monetary need. Services are NOT guaranteed. The person must reside in Danbury. If you have insurance, you do not qualify for the Gift of Sight.
If you meet the above criteria and have questions about either of these programs, please email us at danburylionsweb@gmail.com. We will respond to your request as we are able.
Eye glasses
If you have old eye glasses and would like to donate them, most eye doctors in Danbury have collection boxes. There is also a collection box at the Office of the Danbury Mayor. Please bring them and drop them into the box. You need not give cases with these glasses. Thank you!
Eye screenings
The Danbury Lions have resumed eye screening for the Danbury public and parochial students. Dates for the 2024-25 school year are below. Please join us as a volunteer! Contact Bob Young if you have the time to help out.
Oct. 16 & 18 - Great Plain School
Oct. 21, 23 & 25 - Ellsworth Avenue School
Oct. 28, 30 & Nov. 1 - Hayestown School
Nov. 4, 6 & 8 -King Street Primary School
Nov. 13,15 & 18 - King Street Intermediate School
Nov. 20, 22 & 25 - Mill Ridge School
Dec. 2, 4 & 6 - Morris Street School
Dec. 9, 11, 13 & 16 -Park Avenue School
Dec. 18, 20 & Jan. 8 - Pembroke School
Jan. 10, 13, 15 & 17 - Shelter Rock School
Jan. 22, 24 & 27 - South Street School
Jan. 29, 31 & Feb. 3 - Stadley Rough School
Feb 5 & 7 - WCAIS
Feb. 10 & 14 - St. Gregory School
Feb, 19 & 21 - St. Joseph School
Feb. 24 & 26 - St. Peter School
Feb. 28 - Lutheran School
Mar. 3 - Montessori School
Mar. 5 - Ellsworth Annex
Mar. 7 - ECC Cottage Street
Mar. 10 & 14 - ECC Granville Avenue
Mar. 17 - ECC - Afternoon Session
Low Vision Support Group
The Low Vision Support Group meets the 4th Monday of the month at the Danbury Senior Center, 10 Elmwood Place, Danbury, CT Meetings start at 1 pm. Drivers are needed to transport and bring folks back home. Any questions or to volunteer, please call Lion Joan Stietzel. All are welcome to attend.
For questions regarding programs and services provided by the Low Vision Centers of Fairfield and New Haven Counties, please call 866-319-9733 or visit their web page Home Page (lionslowvisioncenters.org).
Knights of the Blind
Since being dubbed Knights of the Blind by Helen Keller in 1929, Lions have become known around the world for our efforts for the preservation of sight and to prevent blindness. As an example, we collect eyeglasses which are distributed to third world countries.
About 4 years ago, we embarked on a program to detect vision anomalies in the very young. We have been charged to screen children 6 months to 6 years of age. Eye care professionals have learned that anomalies detected early can be treated with more success than if treatment begins at a later age.
As of June 3, 2017, our District, 23A, have screened 17,023 students, 14,401 have ‘passed’ and we have had 2,540 referrals with 82 screenings aborted.
Through our legislators, we are working to change the wording in the State requirements for vision testing that would allow the use of electronic screening to replace the outdated Snellen Eye Chart.
CRIS Radio
CRIS stands for Connectiut Radio Information System. It is a non-profit organization that provides information from daily newspapers and current magazines to people who are unable to read printed material. CRIS programs keep people who have vision impairments informed. The programs cannot be received on a regular radio so most people are provided with a pre-tuned radio free of charge. The programs are also available via cable TV, the telephone or the internet at CRSIradio.org.
CRIS relies on over 400 volunteers statewide to help with the production, programming and the day-to-day operations of CRIS. Volunteers script, read, and operate the control board for daily broadcasts. For further information or to download Listener or Volunteer Applications please visit CRISradio.org or call 203-778-2000.
