POA/Salvation Army/VSP Free Eye Examinations
The Pennsylvania Optometric Association, in conjunction with VSP Eyes of Hope Mobile Clinics, and with the support of the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region, is pleased to announce that we will again be providing no-cost eye examinations for community members in the Harrisburg area.
The event will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 29 and 30, from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army building on 29 Street in Harrisburg. Our target audience will be pediatric patients up to age 18 but if space allows, we will open the program to the entire community. Eligibility screenings and scheduling will be conducted by the Salvation Army staff, with the day-of program being managed by Vision Service Plan (VSP) staff, volunteer doctors, and their staff. That is where POA members come in.
We are relying on POA members and their staff to step up and volunteer for this important program. All we ask is that you volunteer for a 4-hour time slot on one or both days. VSP will be providing 6 full lanes of equipment for our use. They will also be providing an on-site lab, lenses and frame selection should glasses be necessary for any of the patients – at no cost.
The POA’s Vision Statement reads: To create access to high‐quality eye‐health and vision care for all citizens of Pennsylvania. This is an opportunity for our members to bring that statement to life. So please, volunteer for this important event. We need to hear from you by August 1, 2023, so we can begin the registration process for patients.
We are asking each doctor to please sign up one staff member each. They will assist the VSP staff on intake, pre-screening, and frame selection and fitting, among other tasks. Your staff can register their intent to volunteer here.
Last year, many members of the Hispanic community came to us for exams and our bilingual volunteers were incredibly helpful in making these patients feel welcome and assisting them with their paperwork, exams, and frame selections. We are reaching out to our bilingual doctors and staff to volunteer for this important opportunity.
On behalf of the POA, thank you for giving your time to help us support the children and adults in a community who may otherwise never have a full eye examination. The work you do matters. Testimonials last year were overwhelmingly positive and grateful.
Contact Ilene Sauertieg
