Special to The Sun
In honor of Disability Awareness Month, Wakulla County Schools students and staff have been collecting eyeglasses over the past few months to make a donation to the Crawfordville Lions Club.
Ms. Jana McCommon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Mrs. Sharon Scherbarth Simmons is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired at Wakulla County Schools and recently met with Andy Keith, President of the Crawfordville chapter of the Lions Club, a global organization dedicated to improving vision and eye health.
“Every pair of glasses collected will help someone in need,” said Sharon Scherbarth Simmons. “Vision impairment affects so many people in our community, and we are so excited to support the Lion’s Club. My students love the opportunity to help other people with visual impairments.”
Almost 50 pairs of glasses were collected and will be cleaned, repaired, and distributed to those who cannot afford them, both locally and through global initiatives supported by the Lions Club.
The local club has long assisted families with the cost of eye examinations and glasses in Wakulla County, partnering with optometrists and eye care professionals to ensure that everyone has access to the vision care they need.
For those who wish to contribute, the Lions Club accepts glasses and monetary donations year-round. Their meetings are the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Myra Jean’s restaurant. For more information about upcoming events or how to get involved, contact Lion Marc Dickieson at 850-296-5555.
For the donation meeting, staff and students wore shirts created by HernandezTeez, a local company owned by Izabel Hernandez, who is a former Wakulla student with a disability. Her family is a great support for her independence and the company supports disability awareness. For more information, please visit their Instagram page, @HernandezTeez.
Ms. Belinda Crowson is the Executive Director of Exceptional Student Education for Wakulla County Schools and fully supports these and other efforts to raise awareness for students with disabilities.
“True joy is a byproduct of helping others.” said Crowson. “I’m very proud of my staff for giving our students with disabilities the opportunity to give to others.”
