The OneSight Foundation is calling on all Australians to donate unwanted glasses and make donations as part of OneSight Week which kicked off on Monday 21 February.
Over the week, the not-for-profit group which was established by Luxottica, hopes to raise AUD$30,000 in cash donations for vision clinics held in Australia and also to collect 5,000 pairs of used glasses, which will be cleaned and made ready for dispensing to those in need in developing countries in 2011.
Ms. Gina De George, OneSight Foundation Manager Asia Pacific, said: “Over 314 million people* worldwide can’t access basic eye care and eyewear, including people in Australia. Domestically, OneSight’s volunteer optometrists and supporters have helped more than 200,000 Australians in need over the past eight years.
“OneSight provides free eye care and free prescription glasses through vision clinic at schools, homeless shelters and community centres. During 2011, working closely with our OneSight partners: the Salvation Army; The KIDS Foundation; The Benevolent Society and the NSW & QLD Department of Education, we hope to help more Australians than ever before see clearly,” she said.
Many Australians have a couple of pairs of old and unwanted glasses lying around their homes. We’re encouraging people to not throw them away or leave them to gather dust, but donate them to the OneSight Foundation
Ms. De George explained that school children are particularly at risk of eye damage. She said, “Poor vision impedes a child’s ability to learn in school and robs an adult of independence, mobility and quality of life. The good news is, most of the common problems associated with children’s eyes can all be treated simply by providing eye testing and prescription glasses.”
In Australia, clinics will be held in Palm Island, Queensland in March, as well as Meekatharra, Western Australia in May. Funds raised in Australia go directly towards running these clinics throughout Australia from metropolitan areas through to regional and remote parts of the country.
Outside of Australia the foundation’s Australian arm will send a number of volunteers to support international teams conducting two-week OneSight’s clinics in China in May and South Africa during September and then again in November. These clinics will be staffed by volunteer optometrists and optical dispensers, and will reach between 10,000 and 20,000 people per clinic.
Ms. De George said, “Many Australians have a couple of pairs of old and unwanted glasses lying around their homes. We’re encouraging people to not throw them away or leave them to gather dust, but donate them to the OneSight Foundation. Doing so could change someone’s life forever.”
For more information on OneSight Week go to: www.onesight.org.au
