Incoming president Whitney Ellis, right, immediate past president Gordon Hare, and current president John Elliff cut the ribbon at a ceremony to dedicate the new Bonita Springs Lions Club building.
The Bonita Springs Lions Club is opening a new eye clinic that will be free to those in need. The equipment was paid for by a $2,500 grant from the Bonita Springs Community Foundation.
The opening of a new eye clinic in the heart of Bonita Springs is sure to be saving the vision of hundreds thanks to the efforts of Bonita Springs Lions Club.
The club recently dedicated a $450,000 building that will house the eye clinic, an expanded new space for the assistance office and new offices for the Lions Charities.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to help the community,” said John Elliff, the current president of the Bonita Springs Lions Club. “The eye clinic in itself is something to be proud of.”
Although Elliff’s reign as president ends on Thursaday, he oversaw the majority of the construction of the 3,400-square foot building that began in August of 2005.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity and its been a dream of our membership ...,” said Elliff, about the building that was to be completed in six months. It took longer because of permitting and licensing for the clinic.
“The eye clinic will be self-contained and incorporated but run by the Lions Club because of insurance reasons,” Elliff said.
One of the benefits is that the building has been paid for and that will free monies that the club can use for other endeavors.
The money was raised by members of the Lions and through grants from various organizations.
“Originally deceased Lions gave us money and we had a nest egg to start off with and then we got a grant from the International organization,” said Gordon Hare, the immediate past president of the club. “It’s been amazing that everything worked out so well.”
The building was further paid for by a $25,000 grant from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and the eye clinic was equipment was purchased with $2,500 from the Bonita Springs Community Foundation.
But Hare says the eye clinic will be the focal use for the building since the clubs focus has always been on sight.
“The building has a lot of space with 1,000 for the assistance office and 800 for the eye clinic ... but our focus is on the eyes,” said Hare about the clinic that will be free to people in the community that can’t afford it.
The Lions are a worldwide organization known for working to end preventable blindness.
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