Nearly 1,000 people received free vision care during a five-day clinic hosted by the Cheyenne River Youth Project, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation and Sunglass Hut. Held Aug. 4-8, the clinic served 987 people ages 5 and up.
Licensed optometrists provided full exams, checking visual acuity, color vision, depth perception and more. No insurance or income checks were required, and every participant received a free pair of sunglasses.
The clinic made corrective lenses available at no cost. Most glasses were made on site for same-day pickup, while more complex prescriptions will be shipped to CRYP in four to six weeks.
“Partnering with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation allows us to make a real difference in the lives of the youth and broader community we serve,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s chief executive officer. “When vision issues go untreated, they create barriers to learning and self-confidence. We’re incredibly grateful to OneSight and Sunglass Hut for the care and support they brought last week, helping more people to see a brighter future.”
The CRYP team has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation community. Vision clinic participants expressed their gratitude to organizers for creating a welcoming and professional environment, and many shared that they had been unable to address their vision needs prior to last week.
“One person told us she never could afford to get glasses because she didn’t have room in the household budget,” Garreau said. “This clinic allowed her to finally get the lenses she needed after three years.”
Another participant said he suffered an eye injury a couple of years ago, and the optometrist at the clinic was able to determine the right corrective prescription for him.
“It was incredible to see again,” he wrote to the team. “I’m very thankful and touched that these people came way over here from the East Coast to help.”
“We are proud to support this vibrant community through the gift of clear vision,” said Becky Palm, executive director of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, North America. “Equipping the whole family with clear sight empowers them to thrive in every aspect of life. We [also] are very thankful to Sunglass Hut’s partnership in making the impact possible.”
The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, part of global eyewear company EssilorLuxottica, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating uncorrected poor vision within a generation. Sunglass Hut, a longtime partner of the foundation, also helped make the Eagle Butte clinic possible.
For more information about the vision clinic partners, visit onesight.essilorluxottica.com and sunglasshut.com.
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.