In the spirit of giving, EyeCare4Kids is a nonprofit organization that “provides eye exams and eyeglasses to underserved children and adults,” said CEO Maggie Cline.
The organization was founded in Utah in 2001 and has since expanded to Arizona and Nevada. It recently aided children in California and Africa.
EyeCare4Kids has physical locations in several places like Utah along with mobile clinics. Often, parents are working at the same time as doctors are in their offices. Cline says that’s where the mobile clinics come in.
“We get to go to the schools and help families overcome obstacles and provide care right there at the school,” Cline said.
Cline tells people that one in four school age children in the United State has vision issues.
Vision is a key part of many aspects of life.
“If you can’t see, you can’t learn, you can’t read, you can’t do certain jobs,” Cline said. “Sight is so important and if you don’t have that ability to be able to see clearly, it really affects all different parts of your life.”
EyeCare4Kids reached the 400,000 children-helped mark in 2021 and currently sits around 500,000 helped. Cline says with the organization’s new efforts in California and different parts of Africa, the one-million mark shouldn’t be too far off.
EyeCare4Kids is partnering with the Giving Machines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints yet again this year to help raise more funds for kids in need.
“It is such a huge help and we’re so lucky that people want to give back,” Cline said. “It definitely makes a huge impact. We’re able to provide thousands of services from the donations given at the Giving Machines.”
Every $35 donated to EyeCare4Kids is used for an eye exam and new glasses for one child.
Cline urges people to remember how big of a blessing eyesight really is.
“Sometimes we take for granted our sight,” Cline said. “Just remember how important the gift of sight is and how life-changing a pair of glasses can be.”
For more information on the organization and how to make donations, visit EyeCare4Kids’ website.