WELLSBURG — The Wellsburg Lions Club will hold its 13th-annual elimination drawing and dinner Saturday at the Wellsburg Elks Lodge on Charles Street.
The club is selling 115 tickets at a cost of $60 each, which includes a buffet dinner for two and a chance to win one of 12 cash prizes and a variety of other prizes donated by local businesses.
The cash prizes are: a grand prize of $1,000; a $200 prize; three $100 prizes and seven $60 prizes.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the event, which also will include a cash bar. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., with the drawing to begin at 8 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased from any member or by calling (304) 737-1610, 737-0064 or 737-1557.
Proceeds will go to various community service projects undertaken by the club, including efforts to provide adequate eye care both locally and throughout the world.
The Wellsburg Lions and other Lions clubs in the state work with the West Virginia University Eye Institute to provide free vision screenings to children at West Virginia schools.
Recently the organization’s mobile screening unit tested the vision of 40 fifth- and sixth-graders at Wellsburg Middle School.
Through Lions International’s Sightfirst program, more than $211 million has been invested in the prevention and treatment of illnesses in underdeveloped countries that can lead to blindness. Though such diseases are curable, they are common, due to limited access to modern healthcare in such nations.
Recently Lions International launched a second campaign aimed at raising more than $115 million for eye clinics serving adults and children.
Michael O’Brien, publicity coordinator for the Wellsburg Lions, said through donations to the Lions Club International Foundation, the Wellsburg club and many others provide support for such efforts.
O’Brien said sight-saving clinics are among many projects undertaken by the foundation, which also has provided aid to local flood victims.
Locally the Wellsburg Lions also collect used eyeglasses that may be repaired and distributed to people in need of eyewear but unable to afford it. Used eyeglasses will be collected at the elimination drawing dinner as well as in boxes found at the offices of John Edwards, Dr. Rob Marks and Dr. Adrienne Melgary.
The Lions also support projects involving local youth, including sponsoring the Wellsburg Middle School Leo Club, a community service club for students; and scholarships awarded each year to Brooke High School graduates.
