Our Work
Updates
Recap by Bill Taubman, WI Lions Mission Chair
Every year, numerous Lions head to countries south of our borders with used eyeglasses from our Eyeglass Recycling Center in Rosholt, donated fire trucks, ambulances and school buses gathered by Lions Clubs around the state, and medical and school supplies such as hospital beds and school desks. These item are given freely to Lions Clubs in foreign lands that distribute them to needy schools, orphanages and cities. While on a mission, thousands of used eyeglasses are given out to local residents who probably have never had a pair of glasses in their life.
Materials taken come from donations accumulated throughout the state. The used glasses are collected by Wisconsin Lions and processed through the Eyeglass Recycling Center located at the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt.
Wisconsin Missions is also teaming up with the ALERT program. Lions are willing to travel to help people who have experienced a disaster such as the recent hurricane in Texas. If you would like to become a volunteer, get the sign up form here: ALERT application »
Dominican Republic from Sunday, February 5th until Sunday, February 12, 2023
Dear Lion Friends,
I have been communicating with Past International Director Eugenio Roman for the purpose of organizing an eyeglass mission to the Dominican Republic. He and his wife have a team of people who have worked out the logistics to conduct a mission in Higuey, Dominican Republic from Sunday, February 5th until Sunday, February 12, 2023.
Higuey is the capital city of the eastern province of La Altagracia, the 8th largest city in the DR, about 30 minutes from Punta Cana. The plan is to hold the mission at the university, with students there being our translators. We would stay at a local hotel.
The broad timetable is to have everyone fly in on their own to the International Airport at Punta Cana on Sunday, February 5th. Transportation to the hotel would be coordinated by the Lions Club of Higuey. We would set up the project site on Monday morning, and have a short tour of Higuey in the afternoon. Eyeglass screening and distribution would take place on Tuesday through noon on Saturday. Then transportation would again be provided to take our Wisconsin volunteers to the Punta Cana Airport to fly out on Sunday.
As Bill Taubman mentioned in a previous memo, ideally it would be great to have volunteers for this project who have been trained and participated in a previous mission, or willing and able to attend a training session. A more in-depth training session is being discussed to be held before this mission.
This letter is meant to be a recruitment for 30 people who are interested in participating. More detailed information will be forthcoming, but if you are interested in this project please text, call, or send me an email to let me know of your interest and whether or not you have been on previous missions or training. Also, check to make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the project date. In late fall I will be requesting passport numbers, flight and medical information, and a signed waiver from those who are participating.
Miriam and I are excited about the prospect of resuming overseas eyeglass missions. I hope that you are well, and would like to hear from you soon.
Tom Bredesen
Dominican Republic Project Director
715-546-3735