The following was submitted by Cathy Hammer of Stone Harbor:
I had the opportunity to join a mission trip with Eye Care International this past February. Eye Care has provided trained eye care professional and lay-person volunteers to assist the underserved in El Salvador for 23 years.
On this mission, 54 volunteers went to Chalatenango, north of San Salvador.
This special organization provides ophthalmological services and optometry exams for prescription eyeglasses and “readers.”
Over nine days, 4,009 El Salvadorians were served by Eye Care staff. As a result, 2,162 pairs of reading glasses, and 1,518 prescription glasses were given, as well as countless sunglasses.
Just as important, 50 surgeries were performed to remove cataracts, and 68 prosthetic eyes were manufactured.
There is no greater joy than to give someone glasses and witness, how this act can change a person’s life. Many older women who were unable to contribute to their family, now can, because they have new eyeglasses that enable them to sew or do other useful things.
Many of them were so overjoyed they hugged us and said we were going to heaven, but it was a greater gift for me to see them so happy.
We found that many people in this country, (which is only 1,000 miles from the Equator), are endangering their eyesight by never wearing sunglasses. Unfortunately, we had only a limited number of sunglasses, so we were only able to distribute them to the people who work outside.
Eye Care International receives most of its eyeglasses through the Lions (clubs) Recycle Boxes in public settings such as a library. One of those boxes can be found in the Stone Harbor branch of the Cape May County Library.
Those donations are greatly appreciated, but remember, Lions boxes are not just for your old prescription glasses, but also for readers, sunglasses and eyeglass cases ( they loved them).
I plan to go again next year because it was such a rewarding experience. Those wishing to contribute, may send a check payable to: Eye Care International, 9824 Squaw Valley, VA. 22182.
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