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PHILIPSBURG – The Rotary Club of St. Maarten has organized an eye examination program to support the Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity (VOSH) initiative on St. Maarten, to provide free eyeglasses to those who cannot afford it. The primary mission of VOSH is to facilitate the provision of vision care worldwide to people who can neither afford nor obtain such care.

Fourteen Colorado members of the VOSH team will travel to St. Maarten this weekend where they will execute their mission on Monday, May 9, Tuesday, May 10, and Wednesday, May 11, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. All examinations will take place at the White and Yellow Cross located in St. Johns Estate. These volunteers will focus on providing free eyeglasses first to children. An eye exam will first take place to decide whether or not a person needs eyeglasses.

President of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Jeffrey “Soc” Sochrin stated: “The Rotary Club of St. Maarten is thrilled to be able to support the Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity (VOSH) initiative on St. Maarten. Eye care and proper corrective lenses, if required, are such an important part of living a healthy and productive life. If this initiative puts a single pair of corrective eyeglasses on one person or student, who might not have been able to otherwise afford glasses, we will have made a huge difference. We encourage the general public to join us for this free eye examination at the White and Yellow Cross on May 9, 10 and 11, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. We may even be able to give you free eyeglasses depending on the results of the exam.”

Sochrin continued, “A special thank you goes out to the visiting optometrists of VOSH, Rick Cassidy, who helped organize this event, the Summit Hotel, who provided lodging to the visiting optometrists, the White and Yellow Cross for offering us a fantastic venue to conduct the eye testing and all the members of the project team that made this event possible.”

VOSH Optometrist Dr. Godfrey said: “These volunteers love helping the human population and will do the very best they can with what they have. Their passion is giving and they will give eye exams and eyeglasses to those in need. We are very fortunate to have them here.”

Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor Emil Lee stated: “I would like to commend the initiative of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten to help the less fortunate members of our community to be able see properly. Also special thanks to the White and Yellow Cross for their support in providing to assist this worthwhile endeavor.”

The Rotary Club of St. Maarten was chartered on March 17, 1972 as result of a September 1970 meeting to form a club on the island. For more information, visit the club website at: www.rotarysxm.org.