Free Health Fair Helps Many

Local organizations pulled together to host a community event that offered free vision screening and recycled glasses as well as other health care information and services to hundreds of children and adults. The free examinations were a part of a Juneteenth Celebration and Health Fair. The day-long event featured vision screening, music, vendors, food, and more. Families were able to get a hold of much needed corrective lenses at no cost thanks to the efforts of event organizer Dana Thomas who is a member of Friends of Diabetics. Dana’s daughter, Quianta Tomas shared, “My mom is disabled and she does the whole program from her bed, literally. The phone calls, conferences, looking for money, and looking for volunteers. Everything is done from her bed and she is 100 percent disabled.” Quianta continued by stating, “Every year she (Dana) tries to focus on something different. This year was the free vision screening, glasses and glass cases. Last year it was free medical offered by Riverside County, the year prior was free mammograms… she tries to do anything for the community and everything here is always free.” This year Dana invited the California Lions Friends in sight to attend, a non-profit organization whose mission is “to restore vision and prevent blindness." Their website states that they provide free vision screening and if possible, free recycled eyeglasses to assist those in need. California Lions Friends in Sight set up shop in the Bob Glass Gymnasium to offer their services to those in attendance. They brought with them a team of optometrist, ophthalmologists, and an abundance of volunteers. “They will be here until 3 p.m. and are able to help about 350-400 people today,” said event volunteer Quianta Thomas. Don Ranney, president of California Lions Friends in Sight, said “We have about 1,700 glasses in inventory… We have doctors checking ocular heath and writing prescription… We take inventory at the computer station… the glasses are dispensed and the patients try on as many as 3 or 4 glasses and see which ones they feel more comfortable with.” Other organizations like Molina Heath Care, Planned Parenthood, Friends with Diabetics, Immanuel House, Apple Urgent Care, Perris Resource Center, and many more set up stations at the event. They offered a variety of health services, health tips, consultations, and other information, all free of charge.