United Way, Opticians Assist YCS Students with Glasses

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s Success After 6 program is teaming with several vision care practices to provide children with free eye exams and eye glasses.

Beginning this morning, students at Youngstown Community School will be fitted for eye glasses at the school.

Participating practices include Sight for All, Classic Optical Laboratories, Essilor Vision Foundation, Modern Optical International and Opticians Association of Ohio.

By working closely with these groups, the children can get what they need to correct their vision and, hopefully, improve their performance in school, said Bob Hannon, president of United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley.

“The partnership with these groups truly defines community impact,” Hannon said. “We want our children to succeed in the classroom, and sometimes they face various barriers including not being able to see the board in the front of the classroom. Many of our families can’t afford to go to the eye doctor, so this is where we step in and work with the right partners to truly impact the students.”

Students in kindergarten through sixth grade at YCS and Taft Elementary School were screened by volunteers with the United Way and Lions Club of Youngstown. Then doctors associated with Sight for All stepped in to provide 75 students additional medical services.

“This was a tremendous community effort and involved many pieces to accomplish.” said Dr. Sergul Erzurum, Eye Care Associates and president of Sight for All, “I was really humbled and proud of the volunteer efforts and cooperation everyone showed to help the children of our community.”

Sight for All arranged the eye doctors as well as the transportation through Camelot Lanes, Assumption Village and Boys and Girls Club for the students to go to the doctors’ offices during the school day.

Classic Optical, with its long-time partners at Essilor Vision Foundation, and Modern Optical will manufacture, and provide eyeglasses at no charge. The foundation donated the lenses and Modern Optical donated the frames. Classic Optical will provide two pairs of glasses for each child, one for home and one for school.

“Classic Optical is a family-owned optical manufacturing company that’s been part of the Youngstown community since 1970, and giving back has always been important for us,” said Dawn Friedkin, president. “We know how critical good vision is for students to succeed in school, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to have been able to provide eyeglasses, equipment and volunteers to ensure local schoolchildren have access to the vision they need.”

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.