Lions SEE

Lions SEE website KidSight USA website New York Sate & Bermuda Lions Clubs website

Mission

The mission of Lions SEE, Inc. (Screening Eyes Early) is to decrease childhood blindness through early detection and treatment of the most common vision disorders that cause Amblyopia; insuring that all children of New York State will be able to SEE their future. Lions SEE is a free vision screening program run by Lions from accross New York State to help identify pre-school children (Ages 1 to 5) and school age children with or at risk for amblyopia "Lazy Eye". The program is offered by the Middletown Lions Clubs in collaboration with the NYS Lions SEE Program and the International Program - KidSight USA.

The Middletown Lions Club after screening thousands of children have had a referral rate for examinations by an ophthalmologist at 10%, but since COVID started have been a lot higher - Ask your school about signing the permission slip for your child today.

Amblyopia

Amblyopia is poor vision in an eye that did not develop normal sight during early childhood. It is sometimes called "lazy eye."When one eye develops good vision while the other does not, the eye with poorer vision is called amblyopic. Usually, only one eye is affected by amblyopia, but it is possible for both eyes to be "lazy."The condition is common, affecting approximately two or three out of every 100 people. The best time to correct amblyopia is during infancy or early childhood.

Factors that can lead to Amblyopia:

Myopia--Nearsightedness
Hyperopia–Farsightedness
Anisometropia–Differences in vision between the two eyes
Astigmatism–Blurring caused by unequal focusing of light entering the eye
Ptosis–A drooping eyelid that partially blocks vision
Media opacity–Something preventing light from entering the eye; e.g. a cataract
Strabismus–When the eyes are not aligned properly; e.g. “crossed eyes”

The Problem

It is very difficult to test for these factors in a preverbal population. Standard acuity tests require complex motor and cognitive responses.

What can work?

Vision Screening:

Quick
Noninvasive
Reliable
Useful with non-verbal children
Appropriate for all ages

Pre-schoolers screened by Lion Joan Stoltz, and Past President Marlinda Duncanson and Past District Governor Clifford Youngs.

Reading Action Program

Literacy -- the ability to read and write -- is the foundation for education and social development. Yet, hundreds of millions of adults lack minimum literacy skills and millions of school-aged children are not attending school to obtain them. The Reading Action Program is a 10-year commitment to increasing reading and literacy rates. It’s a call to action for every Lions club around the world to organize service projects and activities that underscore the importance of reading and address specific needs related to illiteracy within their own community.

Lions Can Make a Difference

The Middletown Lions Club has already taken great strides to bridge the gaps in literacy and education while addressing the need for healthy vision. They read to 722 pre-school children in the area during the 1st school year and gave each student their very own book provided by a matching grant from the Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation. Many children are living in homes where there are no books available. Some of these children's parents cannot read themselves so cannot read to their children which studies have proven is a very important part of child development. The Middletown Lions also arrange for free eye exams for qualifying parents and their children.

There are nearly 800 million people around the world today who cannot read. This fact is astonishing given how important one’s ability to read is for learning and development. Literacy not only forms the basis for individual academic, occupational, and social success,2 but it can also empower communities to fight poverty, reduce child mortality, achieve gender equality, and ensure peace and democracy.3

Reading and School Readiness
Reading aloud to young children is one the most effective ways to prepare children to succeed in school. However, many children, particularly those living in poverty, are not exposed to books and reading until they begin attending school. Research shows that books contain many words that children are unlikely to encounter frequently in spoken language. Children's books actually contain 50% more rare words than primetime television or even college students’ conversations. Many thanks to the Brandel-Murphy Youth Foundation for giving our club 2 matching grants to purchase books for the preschoolers in our area.

A group of Lions read to students and gave each one their own book!

Peace Poster Contest

Middletown Lions Club Peace Poster Contest Winner for 2013-2014 was 13 year old Noe Cardozo Huerta who attends Monhagen Middle School. Noe recieved a certificate and a check for $50.00 from then President Debi Yuhas-Shembeda. The theme was "Our World, Our Future."

Each year, Lions clubs around the world proudly sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools and youth groups. The art contest for kids encourages young people worldwide to express their visions of peace. For more than 25 years, millions of children from nearly 100 countries have participated in this contest.

The theme of the 2022-2023 Peace Poster Contest is "Lead with Compassion." Students ages 11, 12 or 13 on November 15th are eligible to participate. Each poster is judged on originality, artistic merit and expression of the theme. Posters advance through several judging levels: local, district, multiple district and international. At the international level, judges from the art, peace, youth, education and media communities select one grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners. One international grand prize winner will receive US$5000.00 and a trip to a special award ceremony.

Click to see current winners!!

Click to see Grand Prize Winners!!

Middletown & Town of Wallkill Fishing Derbies for Children

Saturday before Father's Day at Fancher Davidge Park at Lions Pavilion on Frank Shorter Way.

Picture - 2014 awards ceremony at the Annual Middletown Lions Club and Dept. of Parks & Recreation's Fishing Derby. This is the Middletown Lions Club's Picnic Pavilion at Fancher-Davidge Park that the club donated. The aerator in background on the left was also donated by the Lions club to help keep Summit Pond clean and healthy for fish. Working with the City of Middletown's Dept. of Parks & Recreation, our club also helps restock fish in the pond for everyone who enjoys fishing there.

Saturday after Father's Day at Circleville - C. Hudson Thompson Memorial Park on Sam Fast Lane.

Picture - First Fishing Derby with the Town of Wallkill was held at the Circleville Park on Saturday, June 21, 2014. It was a great success. Over 70 children and their parents participated.

Food Drives

Picture - The Middletown Lions Club collected food items for R.E.C.A.P.'s food pantry. Here, Lions collect donated food items from patrons of Garcia's Market on North Street.

Eye Exams and Eye Glasses

The Middletown Lions Club continues to provide free eye exams and eye glasses for children and adults who qualify. Sight preservation is the Lions Clubs International's main focus. Helen Keller challenged Lions to be "Knights of the Blind." Please contact us if you have a need for our services and we will work with you to see if you qualify.

Hearing Exams and Hearing Assitive Devices

The Middletown Lions Club works with individuals who have hearing disabilities by providing free audio exams and hearing assistive devices for those who qualify. Please contact us if you have a need for our services and we will work with you to see if you qualify.

Used Eyeglass and Hearing Aid Collection

The Middletown Lions Club collects used eyeglasses and hearing aids each month from 33 collection boxes placed in businesses and public buildings in the City of Middletown and the Town of Wallkill. We collect an average of 200 eyeglasses a month. Together with other Lions Clubs in Orange County, the used eyeglasses are transported to a Lions recycliing operation by volunteers. The eyeglasses are then cleaned, counted and sorted. Then the prescriptions of the eyeglasses are calibrated for distribution to people with vision problems in under developed countries through missions.

Location of Eyeglass collection boxes - As of 4/20/2023
Location	Address
America's Best Optical	Orange Plaza - Rt 211
Bharatiya Mandir (Temple)	Fair Oaks
Cohen's Optical	Galleria Mall
Dr Lake's Office	200 Midway Park Drive
Elks Club	48 Prospect Street
Empire Hearing Aid Center	22 Mulberry Street Ste 1-C
Eye to Eye Vision Center	Galleria Mall
First Federal Savings	22 James Street
Garnet Lobby	707 East Main Street
Garnet out patient PT - middle door	75 Crystal Run Road
Greater Upper Room Apostolic Church	Linden Avenue
Jewish Family Services	720 Rt 17M
John J. Lease Office	495 Schutt Road
Mid City Transit	North Street
Middletown City Hall	16 James Street
Middletown Health & Wellness Center	450 East Main Street
Mulberry Senior Center	62 West Main St
North Congregational Church	96 North Beacon Street
NY Eye Institute	75 Crystal Run Road Ste 102
Orange Bank & Trust	Trust Way
Orange Bank & Trust	Wilson Field- Dolson Avenue
Promenade Lobby Desk	Fulton Street
Sam's Club - vision center	300 North Galleria Drive
Shop Rite 211 - courtesy counter	330 Rt 211 E
St John's Lutheran Church	391 Mt Hope Road
St Paul's Methodist Church	58 West Main Street
T/Wallkill Gov't Center - backside of building	Tower Drive
T/Wallkill Senior Center	Wes Warren Drive Behind Cosimo's
Thrall Library	11-19 Depot Street
Twin Towers School - Builder's Club	112 Grand Avenue
Ultimate Spectacles	125 Dolson Avenue
Ultimate Unisex Salon	334 - 336 East Main St
Walmart	470 Rt 211 East
Wildflowers - office	Cottage St Extension

Adopt-a-Family at Holiday Time

Working with the Middletown Cares Coalition, the Middletown Lions Club adopts a family and provides food for a holiday meal as well as gifts for each member of the family.