Celebrating its 100th anniversary year, Aurora Noon Lions Club will add free vision screening to its annual “Breakfast with the Bunny” fundraiser Saturday, April 16.
The all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast is from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Luigi’s Pizza, and Fun Center, 732 Prairie Street in Aurora. The public is invited. Parking is free.
For the first time, the event features an outdoor egg hunt at 11 a.m. In case of rain, the hunt will be held indoors.
Arvid Meyer of Aurora, Noon Lions president, said vision screening is open to persons from six months of age to adult. Screening will be done from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. by a team from Elburn Lions Club.
Stacy Groesch, Elburn Lions event coordinator, said subjects are seated for the test that takes from one to five minutes. Handheld by a trained operator, the portable Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener provides reliable data in seconds. A one- page summary includes the vision assessment and screening results for informed decision making about the need for follow up diagnosis.
According to Groesch, Elburn Lions invested $7,000 in the screener in 2014 and since have added software updates.
Groesch said, “We have done many screenings at the Elburn Lions Club during a variety of events. We’ve screened for Winfield Lions, Batavia Lions, and Hinckley Lions. Our most popular events are pancake breakfasts with either Santa or the Easter Bunny.
“We’ve done screenings at our Elburn Days Festival, anywhere there are kids participating,” Groesch said.
The breakfast features all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, and mini donuts. Beverages include orange juice, milk, chocolate milk, coffee (decaf and regular). With each ticket purchased, patrons will receive an egg-shaped pizza kit to take home!
The Easter bunny will pose for photos with guests. Patrons are invited to bring their cameras.
Tickets at the door, or from Lions members are $7 for adults, $5 for kids and free for ages 2 and under.
Founded in 1922, Aurora Noon Lions Club meets on the first and third Thursdays at Luigi’s.
Prospective members interested in community service are invited. Call 630-921-1307 or visit auroranoonlions.org for more information.
With the motto “We Serve,” Lions volunteers focus on supporting causes including hearing and vision impairment, hunger, the environment, diabetes and childhood cancer.
Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Approximately 1.42 million members in more than 48,000 clubs serve in more than 200 countries and geographic areas worldwide.
Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects and extended service impact through the Sycamore-based Lions Clubs International Foundation. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit lionsclubs.org.
—Al Benson