by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Old cast-off eyeglasses can make a world of difference to a man, woman or child in a foreign country who can suddenly see clearly – almost as if a miracle had just happened – thanks to eyeglasses someone didn’t need or want anymore.
That is why PineCone Vision Center in Sartell is encouraging people to gather any old eyeglasses which might be lying around the house and bring them to the center, located at 2180 Troop Drive in south Sartell. Such eyeglasses include prescription glasses, reading glasses and sunglasses.
The owners of PineCone Vision Center, the husband-wife team of Dr. Nicholas Colatrella and Dr. Stacy Hinkemeyer, will leave Feb. 13 for a 10-day mission in San Felix District, Panama. There, they will match the eyeglasses with people who need them, along with other eye-care work for people living in poverty. Along on the trip will be their two pre-teen children, Alice and Tony, Hinkemeyer’s mother, 12 other optometrists and three ophthalmologists.
Their trip is one of many mission projects of VOSH, which stands for Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity International. The team hopes to visit with up to 500 patients each day.
VOSH changes lives through the gift of vision, which means health, income and education. Working toward the goal of freedom to see, VOSH provides the gift of vision and eye health worldwide. With more than 75 regional, state and school chapters worldwide, VOSH increases global impact by supporting sustainable eye clinics, optometry schools and optometric educators in areas lacking sufficient eye care.
Preparing for the trip has been a family affair for Nicholas, Stacy and their two children. They spent many hours checking the prescriptions of the lenses on all the eyeglasses donated thus far. Then they note the prescriptions, then put them in individual packages.
“Vision and overall systemic health care is scarce in Panama,” said Hinkemeyer, who is clinical director for PineCone Vision Center. “It’s gratifying to be able to make a difference.”
People who have no eyeglasses to donate can always donate a check to cover expenses of the trip. They can write a check out to PineCone Vision Center, with Panama Trip written on the memo line, and send it to PineCone Vision Center, 2180 Troop Drive, Sartell, Minn. 56377.
For more information, call the center at 320-258-3915.
Alice Colatrella and her brother, Tony, have been working long hours to get donated eyeglasses ready for her family’s mission trip to Panama.
Tony Colatrella checks the prescrption of the lenses in donated eyeglasses. The eyeglasses, along with many others, will be given to people in Panama when Tony and his family visit there in February.
A stack of packaged used eyeglasses will be packed to take along to Panama.
