BY ALLIE HULCHER/ REPORTER

Madison optometrist Dr. Dan Placzek won’t rest until he is able to help kids who need but can’t afford glasses.

With a 500 dollar grant for the Madison Lions Club, he will be able to do just that.

An optometrist for over 30 years, Placzek joined the Madison Lions Club when it was formed last year.

The Lions Club is a charity organization.  It provides hearing aids and offers classes to help those with diabetes.  But Placzek said the primary mission of the Lions Club is to provide vision to those who need it.

Placzek has a practice at the Wal-Mart on Madison Blvd.  He said he could help a dozen kids with the grant money by providing the eye exams for free.   Also, the glasses at Wal-Mart are reasonably priced as is.

“We have the best prices around,” Placzek said.  “Forty bucks will get a child a pair of glasses.”

But children who can’t afford the glasses will walk away with a free pair.

Though he would eventually like to be able to help everyone in Madison who can’t afford a pair of glasses, right now Placzek is focused on using the money to help children.

“Kids need to be able to see to succeed in school,” Placzek said.

Placzek can attest to the difference a pair of glasses can make in a child’s life, especially during school – he, too, needed glasses as a child.

“I was so bad off, when the teacher turned her back I had to run up to the blackboard,” Placzek said.  “Smears on the blackboard were what I saw – I could not see that there were letters there.”

Placzek told the story of a 16-year-old he has helped so far with the grant money.

“I was trying to aim him towards glasses a little bit more fashionable for his age group,” Placzek recounted.  “And he said ‘I don’t care about the frame, I just want to see.’”

Another child he has helped is a 6 year old girl with autism.  When she came in to get her eye exam, she had difficulty staying focused.  But after seeing through the eye machine, her whole attitude changed and she became communicative.

These children could not afford glasses, but through the Lions Club they are now able to see.  Despite these success stories, Placzek said he has only helped three children and wants to see more needy patients walking in his door.

“We’ve got the money, we’ve got the volunteers, we just need to find more victims,” Placzek said with a laugh.

So far, to be eligible for a pair of glasses, a student had to go through their school nurse and bring a slip in.  But for the summer months, Placzek recommends going through the Boys and Girls Club of Triana.

Madison City Councilman Jerry Jennings is a member of the Lions Club.  He commends Placzek’s work so far.

“He has been a big asset to the community and the Lions Club, and he is the go-to guy for the glasses,” Jennings said.

Placzek has been a Huntsvillian for 17 years, and is serious about helping his community.

“I want to make that money last as long as possible and help as many people as possible,” Placzek said.  “Our goal is to provide everyone with vision.  This is just how we’re starting out.”

The Madison Alabama Lions Club may be able to provide financial assistance for purchase of eyeglasses and hearing aids for individuals who meet certain maximum income and financial asset criteria.

If interested, call (256) 434-1428 or email madisonlionsclub@gmail.com .