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LAPLACE — Chartered by local civic and business leaders over 60 years ago, the La- Place Lions Club has evolved into a club for men and women from throughout the area. Starting with only a handful of people, LaPlace Lions now has more than five dozen members. Its mission has always been the same – serving the community, the nation and the entire world. The Club follows the International Lions Club’s own motto – “We Serve.”

That service comes in a variety of ways – some almost too small to be seen, others big, broad and obvious.

One of the smaller ways the Lions contribute to the community involves staging “Cubsight”, annual visits to preschools throughout LaPlace and St. John Parish to offer vision screenings to children. Led by Lion Daniel Kurika, a Doctor of Ophthalmology, teams of Lions use a small hand-held device to screen for potential visions issues. If any are found, the children are referred to their own doctors for a follow-up. And sometimes, if they need glasses and can’t afford them, the LaPlace Lions can help with that, too, through the New Orleans-based Lion Eye Foundation, one of the world’s foremost eye centers. Lasik surgery, which has helped millions improve their sight, was developed there. Helping people with vision problems is one of the Lions’ main ways to serve, both here and around the world.

Just outside the LaPlace CVS Pharmacy, a large former Post Office mailbox has been recycled into an eyeglass deposit box – painted bright yellow to make it easy to find. There, people have dropped off their old and outdated glasses which are then recycled and turned into new glasses for others to use. The box is emptied about once a month and sometimes is so full it can’t hold any more. Literally tens of thousands of old glasses have been shared with others that way. The Lions Club also sponsors the annual DuMonde parade and ball, one of the area’s oldest and largest Mardi Gras events. Lions are also on duty every year at the Andouille Festival.

One of the lesser-known services is a statewide camp sponsored by Lions across Louisiana for both mentally and physically handicapped children. It’s free. Several children from the LaPlace area have gone. The Laplace Lions also support the New Orleans Therapeutic Riding Center, a unique facility in LaPlace where handicapped people go to ride docile horses while developing their coordination and muscle skills.

The Lions meet monthly for dinner and fun, and to go over their list of service projects. If you think you’d like to be one, see one!

– by Russ Wise, contributing writer