Lions Club annual Pancake Day benefits vision programs

The Cape Girardeau Lions Club will hold its 68th annual Pancake Day at the Arena Building from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 15. Last year more than 11,000 pancakes were served to more than 3,700 people. A ticket will buy a stack of hot pancakes and beverage (sausages extra) and help charities, too.

Proceeds from last year's Pancake Day, the biggest yet, were contributed to CrimeStoppers, Boys and Girls State, The Guardians, Mid-South Lions Sight Service, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Lions International Foundation, Missouri Lions Eye Research Fund, hearing and sight conservation at the state and local level, the United Way and the agencies it represents.

Mel Van de Ven, Lions Club treasurer, said about $7,000 is contributed to state and national vision programs, and another $8,000 contributed to the Lions Club eyeglass program.

Contributions also aid training dogs for the Leader Dog School for the Blind and funding for the local hearing van.

Two local optometrists, Kyle Brost and James Hall, help individuals in Cape Girardeau County who may otherwise be unable to receive help from Medicaid and Medicare for eye care. Brost said about 70 to 100 free eye exams are performed each year, along with filling 65 to 75 eyeglass prescriptions. People are referred by The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, some church organizations and the Chamber of Commerce.

Anyone donating a pair of used eyeglasses to help support the Lions Club sight program will receive a free pancake ticket.