Bringing Care Closer

Free Mobile Vision and Hearing Screenings for Kids

At the Lions Foundation, we believe every child deserves the chance to see clearly, hear fully, and reach their potential, no matter where they live.

Yet across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, many children still face barriers to basic vision and hearing screenings, especially in rural and underserved areas. Too often, these issues go undetected until they begin to affect learning, development, and confidence.

That’s why we are proud to introduce Bringing Care Closer: Mobile Vision & Hearing Screenings for Kids. This groundbreaking initiative will bring free, on-the-spot screenings directly to children where they live, learn, and play.

How It Will Work

Beginning in September 2026, a fully equipped mobile outreach unit, complete with advanced optometry and audiology devices, will hit the road. It will visit schools, daycares, community centres, and public events across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

While we’ll also bring these services to larger cities, our primary focus will be on rural and remote communities where access to healthcare is often limited.

We can reach up to 40,000 children per year with one single mobile unit. Just imagine what we can achieve with five of those!

From small daycare visits serving 150 kids to large community events reaching 700 attendees, this project is designed to meet children where they are.

When screening identifies a concern, families will receive referrals to specialists and can apply for financial support through our Giving Glances (vision) and Simply Sound (hearing) programs.

This project builds on the success of our KidSight program, which has been serving communities for over eight years.

Led entirely by our dedicated volunteers, KidSight has shown just how essential these screenings are. Its growing popularity and demand inspired us to create this new, expanded initiative.

Bringing Care Closer is our response to that call, ensuring we can reach even more children with the care they deserve.

With Your Support We Can

Real Stories, Real Impact

Hear directly from a parent about why early vision and hearing screenings matter and how they’ve made a difference. Watch the video to see the impact firsthand.

How You Can Help

This is a big dream, but it’s one our community can achieve together.

Here’s how you can be part of it:

Make a donation to help us launch and operate the mobile unit.
Encourage your business, club, or workplace to become a sponsor.
Spread the word to families, friends, and anyone who cares about children’s health and education.

With your help, we can ensure that every child, no matter where they live, has the same chance to succeed in school and in life.