Friends for Sight
What is Friends for Sight?
Our program has two ways we serve:
1. Vision Screenings - Vision Screenings with Friends for Sight usually take place in elementary schools where we complete a basic evaluation of whether students need vision correction for academic purposes. This helps us know if glasses are needed for students and then can connect them to resources and information about comprehensive eye exams. After a few brief trainings, you can sign up to help with these events at your availability (usually off campus and in the mornings).
2. Glasses Sorting Events - We receive boxes of glasses from CharityVision that we pop lenses out of and then sort so they can be sent all around the world to reduce the cost of getting glasses for those who need them.
How do I get involved?
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Charity Vision
Volunteer Description: Volunteers will pop out lenses from glasses and then sort them by type.
Projects sorting donated glasses will be held every other Thursday at 7:00 PM in WSC 3211. There are nothing needed in advance to volunteer. Bring a friend (if you want) and make new friends while serving! The next event will be happening April 3.
Vision Screenings
Volunteer Description: Volunteers will perform vision screenings at elementary schools or other community events.
Volunteer Commitment: We ask volunteers to help at several events over the course of the semester (preferably around 10 hours per semester). These usually are off campus on weekday mornings with occasional evening or Saturday events.
Step 1:
Reach out to us at friendsforsight@byu.edu and then we will send you the links to the trainings (volunteer sign up, video trainings about the events, and the BYU minor protection training). Once you finish your trainings, email us back so we know you have finished everything.
Step 2:
Friends for Sight will send you a link to sign up for specific events. Remember, these are scheduled by the official charity itself so we do not have any control about when they happen or where they happen.
Please contact friendsforsight@byu.edu with any questions about either opportunity.
Contact Info
Volunteering with Friends For Sight has been amazing. It's fun interacting with patients, performing screenings, and giving out glasses to those who really need them. I love that as a student I feel like I can make a huge difference in someone's quality of life by giving them access to proper eye care.
Dear Friends For Sight, I cannot thank you enough for the screening you did at Delilah's preschool last October. Because of you I was able to take her to an optometrist in November where we found out she has amblyopia and melanoma on her eye. The optometrist was AMAZED that her lazy eye was caught this early, because it usually doesn't happen until after a child is struggling to read. We started with glasses and after 6 months we started an eye patch. Everywhere we go Lila is complimented on her eye patch and glasses, she beams with pride every time and brags "I'm a pirate! My eye is learning to see better!" And I boast about Friends For Sight for catching it so early. Lila will be starting kindergarten in the fall and I am exponentially grateful that we already know her eyes need extra help to make reading possible.
Helping do the glasses sorting is such a fun and easy way to make a difference. The people that receive the glasses are so thankful and also it's so satisfying to finally pop out the lenses out of the more difficult glasses.