Know someone with vision needs? Seek out a Lion

Did you see those marvelous folks in their bright yellow vests at the Auburn Grocery Outlet on a recent Saturday or Friday at Newcastle's famous Cheese Shop? That was us, your friendly neighborhood Auburn 49er Lions. We were accepting donations, as all Lions do every year the first weekend of October for White Cane Day! Lions, donations and canes, oh my. What is that dweeb yammering about? A long time ago in a town far, far away, some businessmen in Chicago got together so they could give back to their community, which had done so much for them. In 1917, Melvin Jones wondered what might happen if people pooled their talents together to help improve all around them. It was so successful it has spread worldwide. This International Service Club has 1.5 million people still carrying out that original tenet to "unselfish service to others" with the revered motto, "We Serve." OK, then, why White Canes? Canes have been used for centuries by blind people as a mobility aid to detect obstructions. In 1921 England, James Briggs painted his cane white to make it more visible. Guilly d'Herbemont started a white stick movement in 1931 France. It is now universally accepted as a tool to alert others while aiding the blind. All right, all right, so how do white canes from Europe get connected to businessmen in the Windy City? It is a wonder-filled story of a wonderful woman who wanted to help others as she had been helped. That woman is Helen Keller. Helen became deaf and blind as a baby due to illness. Another remarkable woman, Anne Sullivan, became her teacher and lifelong companion. Helen learned to speak, read and write. She went to Radcliffe-Harvard and was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Helen Keller championed for others as an advocate like no other before. She worked hard for disability rights, was a political activist and delivered lectures non-stop. She wanted to help continue the good that was brought onto her. In 1925, Keller addressed the Lions Club International Convention with an amazing presentation. Please check it out sometime. She asked those Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." It is now a core philanthropic international mission. Those quarters, dollars and twentys you donated allows your friendly neighborhood Lions to help your local community envision one another. It is why we have collection boxes in your neighborhood to collect used eyeglasses and now even hearing aids. We also set up vision screening in schools for quite young children to help determine if their young vision needs special attention as soon as possible. Your Auburn 49er Lions provided the fully equipped Vision Van and optometrist for free eye exams at the Auburn Senior Health Fair on Oct. 15 at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. Do you or someone you know need help with vision needs? Ask a Lion! Go to our district website at https://sacarealionsclubs.com/. Find a club near you and reach out and let someone know. We will do something or find someone to do something. Why do we do this? Because We Are Lions! WE SERVE!