July 2019 | Vol. 19 Iss. 07
FREE
NONPROFIT WILL GIVE GLASSES
TO EVERY MIDVALE CHILD WHO NEEDS THEM By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
A
rcelia Venegas was 3 years old when her parents noticed that she always sat close to the television. It was determined that she needed glasses, but the family couldn’t afford them. So her mother took her to Eye Care 4 Kids, where Venegas got an eye exam and a new pair of glasses for free. “I remember being able to watch from a distance and thinking people see like this?” said Venegas. According to Eye Care 4 Kids, 30 to 50 percent of children in economically-challenged communities go without necessary eye care services. The nonprofit organization was founded in 2001 by optician Joseph Carbone with the mission to provide glasses to every child who needs them. Starting in August, the organization will partner with Midvale City and the Canyons School District to visit all 10 public schools in Midvale with its mobile clinic. Starting with the Title 1 elementary schools, every K-12 student will be screened and those who need them will receive a custom-made pair of glasses free of charge. “This is the first time we’re trying anything like this,” Carbone said. “We’re hoping this is an amazing event.” Eye Care 4 Kids has previously held one-time events at schools in Rose Park, South Salt Lake and Davis County, but this is their first comprehensive effort to reach every student in an entire city. Eye Care 4 Kids has found success working with school districts to find children to help. “My second good idea was working with school districts,” Carbone said. “They know who is showing a need and who’s getting in trouble. It’s of-
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Eye Care 4 Kid’s mobile clinic will bring eye exams and free glasses to every school in Midvale at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. (Photo courtesy Eye Care 4 Kids)
ten the kid getting in trouble who needs glasses. That was me growing up.” The main Eye Care 4 Kids clinic is located in an unassuming building at 6911 S. State Street in Midvale. Appointments are required, and the clinic is busy five days a week. The organization also operates locations in Arizona, Nevada
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and New Jersey. “If a child has Medicaid or CHIP, all services are free,” Carbone said. “If not, each child receives a vision screening, eye exam, new glasses and a case for $35.” Carbone said that in a typical retail setting those same goods and services would cost $550. Continued Page 5
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