Local Lions Club members plan medical mission trip

By Doug McDevitt

 We are living in a uniquely and distinctly contentious era. One only has to open the pages of the paper, tune into any network news broadcast, peruse your favorite blog or dare to voice an opinion at a favorite watering hole or eatery to get a sense of the divide we see in our society. It’s then that we need to search for something uplifting, motivating and restorative. Fortunately, we don’t have to look far or for very long. All around us are people who selflessly give of themselves. It can be just a small gesture of kindness, letting someone go ahead of us in a line, or something considerably more notable. The latter is occurring here in our small hamlet.

 Angie Bollard and Jan Alteri, members of the Norfolk Lions Club, will be embarking on June 20 and will trek, by car, to the small town of Emporia, Va. to assist Torrington optometrist Matthew Blondin on a mission to provide much needed ophthalmological care to that area.

Dr. Blondin and his wife, attorney Audrey Blondin, established a chapter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity International (VOSH), here in Connecticut in 2001. In past years, they have run an eye care clinic in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua but this year, due to the volatile political turmoil and unrest in that nation, they decided to stay closer to home. In searching for an area that is in need of their services they found Emporia, Va. Emporia is a small town of nearly 6,000 residents just off Interstate 95. Dr. Blondin said that it is a typical town of anywhere USA, but travel just a few miles away from that famous asphalt ribbon and it’s another story. Many of the poor residents of the town missed out on the Affordable Care Act and have virtually no medical assistance, hence the need for Dr. Blondin and his team. 

 Alteri and Bollard, who also serve on the Farmer’s Market Committee, explained that the mission of the Lions Club fits perfectly with VOSH. Norfolk’s Lions Club, lead by Jan Graham Jones, theclub president, was established in 1951 for the sole purpose of creating a much- needed ambulance program for the town. The Lions Club also offers scholarships to area high school students, helps the needy in our town, continues to raise funds to finance the ambulance corps, provides eye screening at Botelle School and, of course, collects old eyeglasses – we’ve all seen the legendary yellow and blue mailbox for eyeglass collections – plus much more.

Bollard says that she and Alteri will be in Emporia for several days, assisting any way they can with tasks such as helping eye technicians, sorting eyeglasses for selection by the patients or just simply comforting the apprehensive children as they come into the clinic. 

While they are in Emporia, the pair won’t just restrict themselves to the medical aspect of their mission but plans also to help supply needs for other community support programs. They and other members of the Lions Club are looking for donations of dry or canned dog and cat food, in bags of 10 pounds or less; dog or cat treats and board games and art supplies for children. These donations can be left at the Berkshire Country Store or the National Iron Bank.  

 The work being done by Bollard, Alteri and the Blondins, in concert with the other members of the Lions Club are providing, leaves one with a renewed faith and hope that all will be well. We are surrounded by caring, nurturing souls that will carry us through to better times. All we need to do is open our eyes and hearts and follow the lead of these selfless individuals rising to meet the needs of our neighbors.

Photo, top, by Doug McDevitt: Jan Alteri and Angie Bollard, members of Norfolk Lions Club, will participate in a mission trip to provide eye care in underserved areas of Appalachia.