The Lions collect used eyeglasses and used hearing aides that are refurbished and donated to those in need around the world. Some clubs, including Medford Lakes, Gloucester City and Laurel Springs, also collect durable medical equipment such as wheel chairs, walkers and hospital beds for loan to people in their community. Please click on the Contact Us link to locate a club nearby who can accept your donated items.
Individual clubs within District 16-L support a wide variety of programs and projects. Collectively, all the clubs in the district are encouraged to support the New Jersey Lions Approved Projects, and these local District 16-L Projects listed below:
BESTWORK INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND, INC
1940 Olney Avenue, Suite 200, Cherry Hill NJ 08003-2016
Jon Katz, President/CEO
(856) 424-2510 Fax (856) 751-2765
Website: www.bestworkindustries.org
Bestwork lndustries for the Blind, Inc, is a private not-for-profit corporation established to improve the quality of life for individuals who are blind and visually impaired by providing employment opportunities in a supportive work setting. Services consists of evaluation, on the job training, and employee assistance services. Employees can earn competitive wages while preparing for mainstream employment opportunities.
Since 1981 our focus has been on assisting people who are blind and visually impaired in reaching their employment goals. We provide training areas, such as: light manufacturing, industrial sewing, packaging, assembly and government order processing. Our employees provide quality blind-made products and services to the federal and state governments, law enforcement agencies, and local business and industry. Some of these products include: industrial papertowels, traffic safety clothing, tool bags, military jacket and shirts, laundry nets, US Navy neckerchiefs, non-sterile examination gloves, and food service gloves.
KIDSIGHT USA - PRESCHOOL SCREENING PROGRAM
District 16L participates in the Lions Kidsight USA program, which is a "hands on" Lions project to detect lazy eye and uncorrected refractive errors in children up to age six. The testing procedure utilizes a portable hand held screening device. After a short training on how to use the devices, Lions can quickly and easily detect vision issues for children as young as 6 months of age. The device screens both eyes at once from a nonthreatening 3-foot distance. The touch-screen display allows for one-touch activation, and simple management of patient data entry. The information acquired is used to automatically assess a child’s vision in as little as five seconds. Parents are notified if a problem is found, and clubs may help with glasses, exams, etc. for those in need of assistance.
Clubs interested in learning more about the program, or borrowing a screening device, which are owned by the 16L Charitable Foundation, should contact: PDG Ely Mateo at mouserock@comcast.net or 609-468-8921
CHALLENGED CHILDREN'S CHARITY CORPORATION
PO Box 338, 127 26th Street, Avalon, NJ 08202
609 927-7839 http://www.dillerblindhome.com
Since 1972, The Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children, located at 126 27th Street in Avalon, NJ has been providing a seashore escape for visually impaired children, with supervision from experienced and certified counselors and administrators. Since many of these children come from families with limited financial means, the vacation experience is provided to them at no charge. The camp operates for eight weeks during the summer months, from mid-June to mid-August, with approximately 20 children (ages 7-15) attending weekly.
L.E.E.D.S
Lions, Eye, Ear, Diabetes Screening
Contact John Allen 732.928.5863 E-mail: jeamea1148@gmail.com
L.E.E.D.S is comprised of a number of clubs throughout the district. Its mission is to provide the clubs with various equipment to be used for local club eye screenings. It also helps with the funding for the CentraState Medical Center Wellness Van which is available to Lions Clubs, Senior Centers and employers to provide screenings for diabetes and hypertension (within the CentraState Medical Center operating area).
L.E.E.D.S. is the conduit through which local clubs can borrow Spot Cameras to screen pre-verbal through Kindergarten children for numerous eye conditions, including amblyopia, which may become permanent if not detected prior to 7 years of age. L.E.E.D.S also provides diabetes education and assistance through the CentraState Medical Center Wellness Program.
THE NEW JERSEY LIONS KATZENBACH COMMITTEE
The Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf https://www.nj.gov/education/mksd/ provides students from Pre-K to age 21 with an atmosphere rich in Deaf culture, an environment of direct communication, and a curriculum that meets New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Each year the NJ Lions Katzenbach Committee, a 501 (c) (3) charity, help the graduates of MKSD transition out of the controlled school environment to jobs, vocational training, or an institution of higher learning. The Lions present each graduating senior with monetary awards and items to help them in their future endeavors
For more information or to make a donation to the NJ Lions Katzenbach Committee for graduation gifts, please contact Takeo Ishimasa, PDG at 848.466.7953 or takeo.ishimasa@verizon.net.
ALBERT J CARINO BASKEBALL CLUB
OF SOUTH JERSEY - ALL STAR GAME
Website: https://www.carinobasketballclub.org/
The Albert J Carino Basketball Club (AJCBBC) is an organization that recognizes high school basketball players, coaches and contributors in South Jersey. As supporting youth has long been a cause championed by Lions, clubs from South Jersey have been working with AJCBBC since the 1970’s. Each year they co-sponsor All-Star games, to raise money for scholarships. The game is played each year on the 4th Sunday in March at the Rutgers University Camden Campus.
Lions can volunteer to staff ticket booths and sell programs on game day. They can also help by purchasing tickets to the game, that can be used by club members, their families and friends, or donated to be used by local schools. Solicitation letters and tickets are mailed to clubs each year. For additional information or to volunteer on game day, contact the 16L Chairpersons, PDG Bob DeLambily at 856.278.1212 or PDG Bill Sauser at 856.629.1956.
