The Alabama Lions Club is sponsoring its annual East-West All-Star series, beginning locally with the George C. Spence Memorial East-West All-Star Game. That game will be played on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Demopolis High School baseball field.

The admission is only $2, well worth the chance to see the best baseball talent in our area, but there is even more behind your $2 admission donation.

All proceeds go to Alabama Lions Sight Conservation Association, which helps those in need get eye care, including eyeglasses.

When I was a kid, I benefitted from the Lions Club’s program to help needy children get eyeglasses. I remember going up to Birmingham with my grandmother to get my eyes tested. It was the first time I had my eyes dilated — kind of scary but kind of neat. I later got a pair of eyeglasses that survived a lot better than my previous pair, which suffered breaks from several backyard football games.

I am grateful that the Lions Club had such a program in place, and I encourage those who might qualify to fill out the application at the Department of Human Resources office at 701 Shiloh Street in Linden.

“At this time, they need all the funding that they can get, because they have a lot of requests for help,” said Alabama Lions Club member Allen Bishop of Demopolis. “It’s a really neat program, and it’s located near the UAB hospital. They have some of the best doctors, optometrists and ophthalmologists in the business there. The doctors are good about charging reasonable fees.

“The process goes through the Department of Human Resources. They have applications that, when completed, go to Alabama Sight, which prioritizes them.”

Demopolis and its people have always loved good baseball, and we have always had it here in Demopolis.

Players who take part in the East-West All-Star Game are among the best at our area schools, and you can expect that some will be chosen to take part int he regioanl All-Star Game in Clanton on May 29, and then in the state championship series in Birmingham next month.

I want to ask you to go take in the East-West All-Star Game this Tuesday at DHS. It’s a chance to see some of the best baseball talent in the area and to help correct the vision of other kids from this area.

As someone who has benefitted from this program, I encourage you to go to the game and make a donation to Alabama Sight. You never know who your donation can help.

David B. Snow is the managing editor of The Demopolis Times.