It's been 44 years since Rochester Memorial School had a new vision screener, but now with the help of the Rochester Lions Club, they've got a state of the art machine.

As new school nurse Michelle Humphrey was inventorying her equipment this year, she discovered the age of the machine and that it was originally donated by the Lions Club, Women's Club and Leo's Club. So, she decided to go back to the source and asked the Lions if they would be willing to purchase a new vision screener for the school.

State law requires schools to test the visual acuity of students. While the old machine, donated in 1970, still works, it is outdated.

"The parts are no longer available," said Humphrey. "If something happened, we would not have a screener."

After contacting the Lions Club, Humphrey presented her proposal at one of the club's meetings.

Lions Club Secretary John Cobb said, "We voted on it because it’s in line with the mission of preventing blindness."

The club donated just under $2,000 to purchase the new scanner.

At the all school assembly on Friday morning, the students and staff gave the Club a "giant big thank you" for its donation, with Cobb and fellow Lion Deb Martin in attendance.

Humphrey had students at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School make a plaque for the machine in honor of the Lions.