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VOSH Team Restores Sight, Livelihood, Joy
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Nearly 600 residents of the inland San Martín Sacatepequez region and as far away as the Pacific coast of Guatemala received eye care this month at Xela AID’s headquarters. The care was provided by a Kansas-based team from VOSH International ("Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity”) with support from Xela AID’s staff who invested many weeks scheduling patients. They translated Mám to Spanish and Spanish to English during the clinic, and Xela AID's Dr. Karla will arrange for follow-up care.
The care the VOSH professionals and support staff provided over the four-day clinic was often sight restoring. VOSH volunteers shared numerous stories about people who came into the clinic with extremely impaired vision and who walked out able to see.
“It was incredibly fulfilling to see people put on our glasses and see for the first time, or for the first time in years,” said VOSH volunteer Bailey Driver, who worked in the dispensary. “It was amazing to put a pair of glasses on someone and see a smile of pure joy come across their face!"
VOSH arrived with thousands of pairs of reconditioned glasses, many of which were cleaned, sorted, packaged and donated by Lions International. Some unusual prescriptions required that glasses be made especially for the patients, and VOSH returned to the states with a few dozen prescriptions to fabricate. The new glasses will be returned to the village with a Xela AID team traveling in April.
For their loving care for this community, Xela AID thanks the entire team, including: Brent Crandon, trip leader, with Eric Lamp who’s chance meeting with Xela AID board members last year was key to the partnership. Additionally, Xela AID thanks Stacy Clark, Connor Mortens, Bailey Driver, Ben Driver, Diane Palos, Tom Crandon, Stephanie Crandon, Erica Crandon, Jenee Barth, Evie Barth, Griffin Lamp and Paula Biggar.
Thank you VOSH!
Photo: Sight restored! Photo by Savannah Brooke
Note: The Sight Clinic was just one of several focuses of Xela AID’s March volunteer trip. Additional stories and photos from the accomplishments of other trip members will be shared next month!
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Volunteer Trip Added August 2016
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By popular demand a volunteer trip has been added to the 2016 lineup. Travel with us August 23-31, 2016. Teach English, lead a computer class, share your arts and crafts skills, work with our medical team and much more to enrich the lives of those we serve, and your own! We will help you use your skills and talents to help make a difference in the village of San Martín Chiquito, and look forward to sharing this unforgettable experienced with you!
Photo: Volunteer Lindsay Mattingly teaches English to students in Xela AID's Leadership Training Program.
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Rebs’ Shells Out for Xela AID
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Johnny Rebs' features complimentary peanuts on each table in all three of their Southern California restaurants. Larry and Cheryl Carter, owners of Rebs’ which specializes in delicious Southern fare, decided one year to pair peanuts with philanthropy. In 2000, Reb’s rolled out their “Shell Out for Charity Program.” An information sheet about the current chosen charity is placed in a bucket on each table, asking peanut-popping guests to shell out their spare change.
Since the program’s launch, Rebs’ and generous guests have raised more than $500,000 for local charities. Xela AID is their current charity recipient, now through May 2016.
“We are thrilled to be spotlighting Xela AID and all of their wonderful work through our current Shell Out campaign,” said Rebs’ Marketing and Communications Coordinator Savannah Brooke.
Stop by Johnny Rebs’ for dinner tonight and Shell Out! Johnny Rebs’ can be found in Bellflower, Orange and Long Beach http://johnnyrebs.com/.
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Stay tuned for more updates next month!
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