Della Optique Gives Back to The Community via The Eyeglass Project
The Eyeglass Project is a local non-profit organization that aims to improve the quality of life for vulnerable individuals by giving the gift of sight. This charity first came to life in 2018 when founder, Howard Ma, asked himself a very simple question: “I am paying $700-$800 for a pair of prescription glasses. What do other people do when they cannot afford to purchase a high prescription pair of glasses?”
For people living on the streets of the Downtown Eastside, many have trouble gaining access to the most basic of necessities. The Eyeglass Project wants to be sure that vision care is not one of those basic necessities that goes overlooked. The project has been providing these pro bono mobile optometric clinics since March 2018 at a variety of locations in Vancouver.
On October 3rd 2021, our very own Dr. Bosung Kim spent the day giving back to the local Vancouver, Chinatown community. Although this makeshift clinic was delayed by almost a year and a half due to COVID-19 closures, it was finally made possible with the help of The Eyeglass Project’s team of volunteers and the team at PCRS (Pacific Community Resources Society). The volunteers working to provide this eye care clinic focused on serving overachieving students who are using education to create a future for themselves and their low income families.
Dr. Bosung Kim giving back to the local Vancouver community through The Eyeglass Project on October 3rd 2021.
The day’s focus was on providing fifty teens and preteens who are attending the Pathways to Education program provided by Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS) with optometric clinic services ranging from eye health exams to eye glasses where appropriate.
Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS) has a thirty-six year history of providing a breadth of quality accredited social services across British Columbia, including education, employment, housing, substance use, mental health, and youth and family support services. And speaking about PCRS, check out their website here (http://www.pcrs.ca/) for more information on this stellar program.
This day was made possible by all the thoughtful volunteers that showed up to give a hand. A special shout-out to the other participating optometrists, Dr. Harbir Sian, Dr. Marilyn Wong and Dr. Harpreet Takhar for providing eye examinations to the youth. A special thanks to the UBC Red Cross Club for assisting to make this day extra special.
At Della Optique, our doctors of optometry have been involving themselves with community outreach for over twenty-five years. Giving back continues to be an essential part of the Della Optique mission. A special acknowledgment to Dr. Bosung Kim for his provision of pro bono optometric health care to those who attended.
