News from the AOA's Blog

No matter your profession — eye care provider, student, lawyer, construction worker, or anything at all, a humanitarian project just may be what the doctor ordered. 

Registration is open for Great Shape! Inc.’s newest project, iCare. 

Last year, volunteers fit an 80-year-old woman with a pair of glasses for the first time.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said, “This is the first time in over 10 years that I have been able to read my Bible.” 

iCare is currently recruiting optometrists, opticians, ophthalmologists, students or anyone who strives to serve others.

Help is needed to staff temporary eye care clinics, provide exams, glasses and surgery referrals to families in rural Jamaica. 

“It’s amazing. The only thing missing between their eyes and books is a pair of glasses,” said Seattle Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity (VOSH) and iCare volunteer Marsha Sullivan. “If we didn’t go there they would go their whole lives without any care at all.”

Thanks to its partnership with VOSH NorthWest, in 2009 iCare volunteers provided comprehensive eye exams and provided prescription glasses to more than 1,850, most who have never been to an eye doctor before. One hundred twenty patients were referred for sight-saving surgery. 

This fall the iCare project will expand to two weeks.  

• Week 1: Whitehouse – Sept. 17 to Sept. 27
• Week 2: Montego Bay – Sept. 24- to Oct. 4

Great Shape! Inc. lists the top eight reasons to join iCare 2010:

1. In western Jamaica, thousands of families live without access to eye care; there are no public health optometrists.

2. Every volunteer is filled with a joy that can only come from donating time and love.

3. Volunteers are hosted, fed and entertained at Sandals Resorts International at no charge. The Sandals Foundation is Great Shape!’s No. 1 sponsor.

4. When eyesight is corrected with prescription glasses children can learn to read and adults can gain employment.    

5. You get to nurture relationships with the people you serve; Jamaica is a wonderful and welcoming country with vibrant and joyful people.

6. Participate in the “Sponsor The Gift Of Sight” campaign and you can easily fundraise to get refunded the costs of your airfare and project fees. Anyone who donates at least $50 to sponsor you gets a one in 1,000 chance to win a five-day all inclusive vacation in Jamaica.

7. You only have to pay for airfare plus a $650 tax-deductible project fee that goes to pay for the costs of the project.
8. You can make a difference in the lives of thousands of Jamaicans!

Since 1988, Great Shape! Inc. has facilitated humanitarian projects in Jamaica. Volunteers serve with Great Shape!  Inc.’s 1,000 Smiles (dental), SuperKids (literacy), and iCare (vision).

Hundreds of past Great Shape! volunteers are available to answer questions of first time potential volunteers.

To learn more about volunteering or to help spread the word about open registration, visit www.gsjamaica.org or www.greatshapejamaica.blogspot.com.

To register, call 510-893-1751 or e-mail Tiffany Rinaldi at tiffany@gsjamaica.org.