Elementary, pre-kindergarten and pre-school students in Centerville, Iowa and other South Central Iowa communities will soon be having their vision tested at no charge by local Lion’s Club members, thanks to a grant from MutualAid eXchange (MAX) insurance and local contributions.
Dale Sales, Lion’s Club President and a principle of Cook Insurance in Centerville, announced the $2,500 grant at the club’s Monday night dinner.
“We are thrilled and grateful to MAX Insurance and its Mutual Aid Ministries program for this significant gift,” Sales said. “Combined with the funds we’ve raised locally, we can now purchase the iScreen Digital Camera that will help us check our area’s young children’s vision. If we detect a problem, we can refer them to a doctor for treatment. This is a real blessing for so many families who may not be able to afford eye care for their kids. The iScreen Digital Camera will replace our old Polaroid Camera (film for the camera is being discontinued) that has served us well over the years. The new digital camera technology today is more efficient and cost effective to use. We have screened just over 400 children during 2015 and plan to expand are our efforts in 2016 due to having the new iScreen digital camera.”
“MAX is a fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance company that tries to give back in the communities we serve,” said Mark Files, MAX Regional Sales Manager. “When Dan Sales, one of our independent agents, informed us of this Lion’s Club project we were excited to help out. It’s a great program and we’re proud to be part of it.”
The iScreen Digital Camera allows a trained operator to take a digital image of a child’s eyes much like taking a photograph. The equipment can detect a wide range of eye disorders which can be given to an eye professional for follow-up and treatment.
After training its members how to operate the equipment, the Lion’s Club will visit area schools to provide free testing for the children.
For more information visit www.MAXInsurance.com, www.CookInsuranceIowa.com, www.iScreenVision.com, www.LionsClubs.org.
Photo by Becky Maxwell/Daily Iowegian. Left to right: Dan Sales and Dale Sales of Cook Insurance with Mark Files, Regional Sales Manager of MAX Insurance.