Focus on community as Merri-bek offers free vision clinic
BY LERISSE SMITH
An exciting new eye-care program hosted by Merri-bek City Corps in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs is providing life-transforming vision restoration to those in greatest need.
A team from the corps recently ran a OneSight Vision Clinic in collaboration with The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Deloitte Australia to provide free optometry testing and glasses to local community members who would otherwise be unable to afford prescription glasses.
It was an outstanding success.
“It’s life-transforming,” said Captain Steph Glover, Corps Officer - Team Leader of Merri-bek City Salvos.
“We had people in tears this morning saying, ‘This is going to change my life.’ We had children now able to learn because they can see, through the provision of the glasses and correct prescription. Others can start working because they have the ability now to see. We also had people from refugee families who desperately needed help.
“We are so grateful to the Foundation for providing the optometrists and prescription glasses for those unable to afford the costly expense of having prescription glasses.”
A team of employees from Deloitte Australia also volunteered a day to assist with the One Sight Vision Clinic, checking community members in and coordinating the day’s flow.
Other Deloitte staff spent the day in the kitchen, alongside local chef Dougie Thompson, cooking restaurant-quality meals that were packaged for struggling community members.
“Chef Dougie is such a blessing to our local community,” Steph remarked.
“He is passionate about supporting those in need and gives generously of his time, resources, and skills to bless others. Chef Dougie also oversees the Christmas Day lunch at our Brunswick site, where over 100 community members gather, who would otherwise be on their own. We are so grateful to him.”
The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation aims to eliminate uncorrected poor vision in a generation by creating sustainable access through an innovative approach to impact philanthropy, partnerships and raising awareness. Their staff provided a range of prescription glasses to local residents. If they did not have the correct prescription at the clinic, a new pair of glasses was ordered for the community members.
The provision of free prescription glasses greatly benefited those in the community, from community members pursuing careers and pathways to help others to local residents struggling with the rising cost of living.
One resident, Akachukwu, a sponsored PHD student from Nigeria who came to Australia to study malaria in pregnancy, attended the OneSight clinic and benefited significantly from the gift of prescription eyewear, as her studies require extensive reading.
Additionally, the new glasses will prevent Akachukwu’s eyesight from further deterioration.
“Akachukwu will one day return to Nigeria to tackle the prevalence of malaria in pregnancy in her home country, which complicates up to 58.1 per cent of pregnancies,” Steph explained.
Another local community member, who lives week to week on food parcels and struggles with chronic pain and illness, was overwhelmed that she would receive prescription glasses worth over $500 at no cost.
“I could not have even dreamed of affording glasses,” the local resident remarked.
“Seeing clearly has become a luxury, along with almost everything else in my life. I live week to week off basic food parcels, using one light in the house and unable to afford to turn on a heater. I am so grateful!”
The local Salvos team also filled her pantry with some special items and provided her with ready-made meals cooked by chef Dougie and the Deloitte team.
With the clinic being a great success, plans are underway to run it again in the future.
“All in all, it was a wonderful opportunity to, once again, open our doors, welcome, engage with, and share the love of Jesus with our wider community,” Steph said. “And to make them aware of all the other services, activities, and ministries we provide.”
Click through the slideshow below to view more photos of the eye-care day.
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