Cape Coral Lions Club needs volunteers to keep vision, hearing mission alive

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)—A local non-profit that nearly disappeared is now trying to grow again.

The Cape Coral Lions Club focuses on helping families with vision and hearing assistance. Members say the organization dwindled down to just four people several years ago as longtime members aged out and meetings stopped happening.

On the third Thursday of every month, a group of volunteers gathers inside Overtime Pizza in Cape Coral. Over pizza, the Cape Coral Lions Club talks purpose.

"Lions Club takes care of people with blindness and sight problems," said Ron Montange, director of the Cape Coral Lions Club. "We also do things with hearing aids, and we also do things with diabetes testing."

Montange said the Cape Coral Lions Club has spent decades helping people across Southwest Florida. The club provides vision screenings, hearing assistance and support for families in need.

"We do screen sightings for kids in preschool and kindergarten, and we do thousands in this tri-county area," Montange said.

The club's president shared the screening totals for preschool students in Lee County for the first half of the year.

A total of 4,777 students were screened during that time.

Of those students, 638 were referred for vision concerns and 971 were referred for hearing concerns.

The effort was supported by 64 volunteers who collectively put in 2,075 hours of service.

Member Ed Hutch told WINK News anchor Emma Heaton at WINK Listens that their biggest goal is to get more people involved, especially younger volunteers.

"The students get so happy, the parents get happy," Hutch said. "The students get help. The parents get help. That's what we're here for."

Montange said younger generations don't seem to be getting as involved in community support. He emphasized the importance of letting people know there are needs out there that they can fill.

The club's work ranges from collecting donated eyeglasses to helping families connect with vision and hearing resources. Members also help with small projects like building handicap ramps.

"If somebody needs a handicap ramp, or something like that, we'll fork the money out for that," Montange said.

"Some of us are still in the carpentry and stuff, we can help out."

Members hope someone watching will be encouraged to volunteer and help continue the organization's nearly 100-year legacy in Cape Coral.

Montange and Hutch say the club is also a great opportunity for students looking to earn community service hours for school.

To learn more about volunteering and free child vision testing, visit https://www.capecorallionsclub.org/take-action