Projects

The following are designated projects of Lions District 2-A1:

Acuna Eye Clinic, Cuidad, Mexico District 2-A1 funded and built a 2,400 sq. ft. concrete block building in Cuidad, Acuna Mexico. This building is the home of the Lions Health Clinic of Cuidad Acuna. The clinic is the site for free eye examinations, eye surgeries and other services performed by U.S. and Mexican doctors and others on a voluntary basis.

Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) LCIF is the grant making arm of Lions Clubs International. Its mission is to support the efforts of Lions Clubs worldwide in serving their local communities and the world community as they carry out essential humanitarian services projects. Visit www.lcif.org today. Funding is made from several sources, one of which is through contributions for Melvin Jones Fellow Awards. Click here to see standings for District 2-A1 Clubs.

Leader Dogs for the Blind Without doubt, one of the most dramatic and best-known service activities of Lions is the Leader Dog program. The Leader Dog School was founded in 1939 by three Lions who were unable to obtain Leader Dogs from any other source. Founders were S.A. Dodge, Donald P. Schuur and Charles A. Nutting; all of who later served as President of the Leader Dog organization. Conceived in a dream, Leader Dog has grown to be one of the largest and finest dog guide schools in the world.
     The whole enterprise began, with more courage than anything else, when a few Lions from Detroit, Michigan, purchased an old farmhouse which still stands in the center of a complex now valued at over twelve million dollars. The leader Dog School in Rochester, Michigan is adjacent to an estimated 45% of the nation's blind.
     During its first years of operation, only a few people graduated. In fiscal year 2002, 274 Leader Dog teams graduated; 274 more blind people went out into the world able to live a life of their own, despite blindness. 12,169 Leader Dogs have been trained since the founding of the school in 1939. For 63 years Lions and Lioness have invested untold time and effort in the Leader Dog program. Leader dog offers its services through the Lions and Lioness of all states to the blind. Lions and Lioness help spread the word that blind people who want to be free and mobile can have a Leader Dog for the asking and can write in behalf of a blind candidate to obtain an application.

Lions World Service for the Blind (LWSB)   Lions World Services for the Blind in Little Rock, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest, multi-service rehabilitation centers for the blind and visually impaired persons.
     LWSB enrolls clients from any location in the United States and other countries. Our 50 years of services to people who are blind have earned LWSB a world-wide reputation for quality, comprehensive rehabilitation services and excellent job placement results.
    Individual attention and flexibility in services are the keys to their success and the success of their clients. At LWSB, the client will have the advantage of many services at one location that will address all his/her needs. Services include counseling, techniques for independent living, vocational evaluation, pre-vocational training, and extensive vocational courses. The core programs include many more short term courses and skills training which are flexible for the needs of the blind or visually impaired client.

MD-2 Eye Glass Recycling Center, Midland, Texas

Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center - Each year, the Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center supplies 60-80 missions sponsored by church groups, physicians and other organizations with used eyeglasses. The center also supplies eyeglasses for permanent distribution centers in the Republic of Ghana, Nigeria and Brazil.

The center organizes optical training teams composed of Lions, doctors and opticians to work with Lions of multiple districts in developing countries. TLERC has the following training programs in place and available:

How to create and operate an optical clinic with used eyeglasses.
How to create and operate a new and used eyeglass distribution center.
How to create and operate a finishing lab.
Photo-screening.
Low vision

To date, Lions in the following countries have received training: US, Guyana, Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras. Currently, the center is working with Chevron to set up a permanent Lions eyeglass distribution facility in The Republic of Congo. In addition, the center also procures new and used optical and surgical equipment for use by various mission groups.

Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center
200 Plaza Street
Midland, TX 79701

Contact the Eye Glass Recycling Coordinator:
PDG Ike Fitzgerald
Phone: R: (432) 682-7074 B: (432) 683-3611
Fax: (432) 699-6233
e-mail: eyeglassike@juno.com

Texas Lions League for Crippled Children   The Texas Lions Camp at Kerrville, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing, without charge, a summer camp for children with physical disabilities and Type 1 diabetes from the state of Texas regardless of race, religion or national origin.
     Since 1949 the Texas Lions Camp has served over 50,000 children with special medical conditions. Located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, the Camp is nested on 504 acres of wooded countryside. Modern facilities include a newly renovated dining hall, infirmary, junior Olympic sized swimming pool, fishing pond, high and low elements ropes course, gym, weight room, amphitheater, air-conditioned cabins and much more.
     Children attending the Texas Lions Camp have opportunities to experience recreational and leisure activities. Swimming, water sports, horseback riding, nature trails, tennis courts, team courts, team sports, canoeing and sleeping under the stars are just a few of the activities available for campers. Children attending the Texas Lions Camp have many opportunities for positive social interaction, gaining self-confidence and developing a greater self-image.
     Children with physical disabilities eligible to participate in summer camping programs at the Texas Lions Camp must be between the ages of 7 and 16. Children with Type 1 diabetes must be between the ages of 8 and 15.
     The diabetic camping program at the Texas Lions Camp provides children with an opportunity to learn and expand their self-care skills. While attending the diabetic program campers participate in a wide range of educational programs in addition to the primary recreational activities offered each summer. A medical team joins the Texas Lions Camp to help children learn more about their condition. Each day children monitor blood sugar levels, make choices regarding nutrition, and learn about insulin procedures. Parents are offered a special day of instruction at the end of each camping session. The parent instruction provides detailed information about current diabetes care.
     The Texas Lions Camp is funded primarily through the generosity of Lions Clubs throughout the state of Texas. Lions Clubs significantly support the activities of the Camp through gifts and volunteer resources. Each spring Lions Clubs help prepare the Camp for the children. On Work Weekends Lions Clubs provide volunteers who assist with painting, cutting firewood, cleaning brush, washing windows and much more. Lions Clubs support the Camp's efforts by recruiting and sponsoring campers from their communities. Some Clubs even provide transportation to and from camp! Lions Clubs also come to Camp throughout the summer to prepare meals and meet campers. Through the enthusiasm, talents and gifts provided by Texas Lions Clubs the Texas Lions Camp continues to offer exciting summer opportunities at no charge.
     To learn more about the Texas Lions Camp visit their website at www.lionscamp.com On the website you can take a Camp tour, download a camper of staff application and discover other opportunities for being involved at the Texas Lions Camp.

Texas Lions Foundation The Texas Lions Foundation was formed by and for the Lions Clubs of Texas in order to provide grants for Humanitarian & Disaster Relief Purposes. Funds for these grants come from Lions and Lions Clubs in Texas who have made voluntary contributions to the Texas Lions Foundation or have conducted fund raising events specifically to benefit the Foundation.
The Foundation supports charitable activities sponsored by the Lions of Texas. Additionally, the Foundation can assist in defraying the costs of any designated disaster. The Texas Lions Foundation Fellowship Program is a primary means for TLF to strengthen its financial base. The fellowship is presented to a Lion or other individual for a personal contribution of $500 or as a tribute from a Club.

Western Texas Lions Eye Bank Alliance

Eye Banks---

Manage area eye donor programs for the purpose of promoting eye donation; retrieving, processing, and preserving donor eye tissues; and, evaluating and distributing donor eye tissues for sight restoring corneal transplantation.
Provide donor corneas for more than 40,000 sight restoring corneal transplantations in the U.S. each year.
Provide more than 35,000 donor eye tissues for research dedicated to blindness prevention and sight restoration.
Provide educational programs for health care professionals about the importance of offering the opportunity for donation.
Provide educational programs for Lions Clubs and the general public about the importance of and need for eye donation.

For more information, please contact: The Western Texas Lions Eye Bank Association, 102 N. Magdalen, Ste 280, San Angelo, TX 76903. Phone: 325-653-8666. FAX: 325-655-2847. Web Site: www.wtleba.org .