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November, 2012 – Sharon, Pa. – Eyes of Faith Optical and Sight Ministries continue to partner in the delivery of vision and hope to those in need. Eyes of Faith President and Co-founder Jim Schneider joined Sight Ministries International representatives, two doctors, and five opticians on his second 10-day Kenyan mission trip beginning October 19, 2012. Eyes of Faith, the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists International, Sight Ministries International, and individual opticians and doctors who support the Eyes of Faith brand collaborated to raise and contribute grants of nearly $11,000 to assemble an effective Kenya team, including two doctors and five opticians. “Working with Sight Ministries in Kenya was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” said Dr. Derrick Artis, Vice President of Vendor Relations for Vision Source. “I would encourage all eye care professionals to get involved in the Eyes of Faith Wear & Share program.” Through the Eyes of Faith Wear & Share program, the Eyes of Faith Foundation donates funds for a complete pair of prescription glasses, sunglasses, or readers to Sight Ministries for every frame sold. The Sight Ministries mission team then works with local pastors to construct mobile clinics at churches, and even under trees in remote villages, to provide eye care and dispense eyewear to long lines of adults and children who typically have no access to these services.

Dr. Derrick Artis, Vice President of Vendor Relations for Vision Source, uses an Eyes of Faith “John 3:16″ eye chart tee during an eye exam in Kenya.

A young Kenyan girl gets fitted with her first pair of glasses

This year, Sight Ministries partnered with Bishop Moses Turere of Global Worship Centers in Kenya. “The help we have received from Sight Ministries and Eyes of Faith’s Wear & Share program has been overwhelming,” said Turere. “We are thankful that they will travel so far to help our pastors give hope to our communities.” The mission team held four days of clinics in four different locations, at which hundreds of Kenyan citizens lined up to receive, in most cases, the first eye exam of their lives. Nearly 400 prescription glasses, 243 reading glasses, and more than 700 sunglasses were dispensed over the course of the four days of clinics.

“I love being on the ground working with Sight Ministries,” said Schneider. “Mission teams are faced with unpredictable needs when they travel to remote villages, and to personally see the overwhelming need for vision care and eyewear of all kinds is the best way for us to set Wear & Share goals for giving. Sunglasses were in high demand during this trip, but our reading glasses were equally in need during a recent Malawi trip. Our mission is to grow Wear & Share so that each trip is fully equipped with enough sunglasses, readers, and prescription glasses to meet every need the missionaries encounter.”
 

Eyes of Faith creates frames for family members of all ages with elements that tastefully communicate faith, and through Wear & Share, a complete pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses is donated to Sight Ministries for every frame sold. The Eyes of Faith collection features classic and contemporary prescription frames and sunglasses that include the hope-inspired logo and subtle, refined details that communicate faith. Eyes of Faith also designs and distributes the VeggieTales Eyewear for Children collection, and will ship its first collection for the popular Not of This World (NOTW) clothing and accessories brand in late November. All Eyes of Faith collections are available at independent eye care professionals nationwide.
 

To see a slideshow of the 2012 Kenya trip, visit eofoptical.com/kenya2012. For more information about Eyes of Faith Optical or the Eyes of Faith Foundation visit eofoptical.com.