Monday, August 19, 2013

Homeless Vision Project Needs Your Support




Support The Project Here

Moved by biblical stories that restore sight and the ways the vision can improve the quality of life, work prospects and health of homeless and low income individuals, the Homeless Vision Project will create vision events in 10 cities across the United States and enable at least 400 individuals to obtain prescription glasses by the end of 2014.

This project not only helps fix a tangible barrier between many individuals and employment, it enables homeless folk to hear "yes" and have a good experience with local service agencies. Often times this helps individuals who have been chronically homeless for a decade to learn about the ways that support systems have approved and accept the help they may have previously rejected.

One of our events will take place on the Big Island of Hawaii where native Hawaiians are 4x's a likely to have diabetes. Our vision care will not only help 40 individuals obtain free prescription glasses, but also screen for ocular diseases and degeneration.

Locations will be chosen based on the need in the area, the ability to partner with congregations and non-profits who will follow up with the individuals after the event, alignment with other programs led by Welcome and the locations of donors (any city or region with donations of $2,000 or more will become a site of a vision event).

Click Here to Support the Project

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Vision Event a Success

Reposted from the Project Homeless Connect Blog:

EDC Vision Event


Photo by Jamey Thomas, 2013
One of the things we’ve been excited about lately is the expansion of services within our Every Day Connect program. With this new program and its growing capacity, we’ve been able to focus our efforts on helping people locate important resources, not only through daily, one-on-one assistance, but through small-scale events. This year, one of the focuses for these small events is vision. At the end of February we were thrilled to collaborate with UCSF, LensCrafters’ OneSight program, and St. Paulus Lutheran Church to provide prescription glasses for 18  participants.
While vision might not be the first thing you think of when you’re imagining critical services for the homeless, it only takes a moment’s reflection to realize just how crucial sight is to so many aspects of our lives. Whether you need to read a lease or government forms, help your children with their homework or perform basic job duties—being able to see is at the forefront of pretty much everything we do.
As Sandra, one of the participants at the Vision Event put it, “I was embarrassed before I got glasses. I always needed help reading things in stores and filling out paperwork. I felt frustrated and misunderstood, like people thought I was stupid.”
With her new pair of glasses, though, Sandra immediately felt more capable and motivated.
I never thought about getting a job [before getting glasses]. But now that I can actually see, I want to do something more with my life. I feel like I can do anything now.

–Sandra, EDC participant
Sandra went on to explain that she plans to take some computer classes to sharpen up her skills and then begin her job search.
This is already the second Vision Event since EDC began in October 2012, and we’re not lacking in ambition for 2013. We know that a pair of glasses truly can change a person’s life, and we’re grateful for all your support as we continue to help people improve their lives.