By Craig Anderson

MIDDLETOWN — The MOT Rotary Club utilized a $5,000 grant last fall to improve vision in Africa, then added another $1,200 of its own funds to the same cause.

With various other Rotary Clubs and individuals kicking in another $2,510, it all added up to 32 cataract surgeries and 311 pairs of glasses for vision-challenged benefactors in Ghana.

The surgeries cost $175 each, and glasses were provided for $10 apiece.

The money gathered was donated to Lifetime Wells Vision in September and October.

According to MOT Rotary Club spokesperson John Nanni, the decision to connect with this initiative was an easy one because Lifetime’s founder Ken Wood is well regarded for his eye care mission in Ghana and Tanzania.

“The good that Ken does is just amazing,” Mr. Nanni said. “We knew exactly how the money would be utilized and that we would know the results.”

Mr. Wood used two doctors to perform the surgeries for the Ghanaians. He called the clubs’ contributions “very, very important to us.”

“I was sweating the whole time how I was going to fund it,” he added.

For his dedication, Mr. Wood was honored by the MOT Rotary Club at its meeting Wednesday at Buffalo Wild Wings.

It’s a vast effort, as Lifetime Wells Vision had facilitated 13,624 cataract surgeries, 35,626 pairs of glasses and 94,354 bacterial blindness treatments, as of April 23.

The other local Rotary contributors were the clubs of Southern New Castle County, Newark, Newark Morning, Caesar Rodney, Camden-Wyoming and Dover Capital City. Dr. Greg Hansen also donated, along with Sally and Al Scarpitti.

For information, visit lifetimewellsvision.org or motrotary.org.