Volunteer Opportunities
Become an LVS Ambassador
The LVS Ambassadors program increases public awareness and understanding of LVS and vision and eye health through a year-long curriculum that provides an in-depth look into LVS operations for Lions Club and civic leaders.
A Lions Vision Services (LVS) Ambassador is a local consultant and mentor to your club that may need additional guidance to improve club participation in giving to LVS and promoting awareness of LVS in your community. As a LVS Ambassador, you will share LVS stories, motivate fellow Lions to personally and corporately financially support LVS, and enable LVS to advance its work. Your service as a LVS Ambassador will aid in the creation of a better life for South Carolinians in need of LVS services.
The LVS Ambassador Training Program is a dynamic and thorough curriculum designed to give participants unique institutional insight into LVS, industry insight into eyecare in South Carolina, and leadership development. Unless otherwise noted, all sessions take place on the second Monday of the month in July, August, September, and October. Each session lasts from approximately 9am until 3pm. LVS Ambassadors are expected to pay travel costs. LVS will cover meals and meeting/tour costs.
Applications are accepted year-round. The deadline for applications for the current calendar year’s class is the third Wednesday of May. Decisions are announced by June 10th. The first training program session is the second Monday of July. Are you ready to begin your Ambassador journey? Learn more and apply online today!
Join a Committee
Our Board of Directors relies on several committees of volunteer community members to review LVS programs, operations, finances, fund raising, and governance to ensure we achieve our mission and increase our impact. These committees typically meet via Zoom once a quarter for roughly 1-2 hours. Some prep time is required to get ready for meetings by reading materials.
The only requirements for joining a committee are having lived experience in South Carolina, an interest in learning more about eye health, time to engage in the process, and access to internet.
If you’re interested in joining one of our existing committees, or just want to contact us to learn more about the opportunity, fill out our Volunteer Interest Form to get started.
Community Engagement
LVS can tap into a statewide network of over 120 local Lions Clubs across South Carolina who provide regular opportunities for volunteer support in their communities. We can also connect you with leaders in those Lions Clubs if you are interested in joining the 3,000+ Members of these Clubs on a regular basis through their monthly meetings. Join a Club near you today!
On-Site Support
Additional office-support volunteer opportunities are available at our headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina. Office support equips our staff to spend more time on providing direct services to low-income families throughout the state.
Transportation
Some LVS clients live alone and are unable to drive due to deteriorating vision. Other clients are uncomfortable asking for help from family and friends and have foregone crucial doctor appointments due to living in remote areas or not having access to safe public transportation. When these situations arise, LVS harnesses a statewide network of more than 3,000 Lions Club members across the state who volunteer their time and services to help transport clients to healthcare appointments aligned with our services.
If you are interested in joining this volunteer group, please contact Winn Fitzgerald for more information at Winn@sightfirst.org or (803) 796-1304.
Healthcare Providers
The most significant collaboration LVS maintains is our statewide Provider Network for eye surgeries. This network represents physicians (ophthalmologists), surgery centers, and anesthesiologists who have contractually agreed to provide a discounted rate on their services, allowing LVS to reduce the cost to our organization in providing eye surgery services with these partners. The value of these in-kind services allows LVS to leverage every $1 donated into an additional $4 in services provided.
Members of the LVS Provider Network include over 80 entities spanning 24 counties in South Carolina, 1 county in Georgia, and 3 counties in North Carolina. Some noteworthy names in this network include Aiken Ophthalmology, AnMed Health, Beaufort Eye Clinic, Clemson Eye, Coastal Eye Group, Columbia Eye Clinic, Kershaw Health, McLeod Health, MUSC, Palmetto Anesthesia Associates, Prisma Health, Stokes Regional Eye Centers, and Trident.
If you are an ophthalmologist or anesthesiologist, or represent a surgery center or group of eye care providers, and would like to learn how you can join this distinguished network of volunteers, please contact Winn Fitzgerald at Winn@sightfirst.org.
Special Events
There are a number of varied event volunteers needed for the annual Santee Blind Fishing Weekend. Whether you are serving meals, preparing equipment, providing boats, or working one-on-one with one of our blind and visually impaired guests, there is an important role for you. Visit the event webpage for updates on Volunteer Registration for the next event.