Eye Thrive

We know first-hand the transformative power a pair of glasses can have on a child, in school and throughout their lives. For our kids, the impact of clear vision means endless possibility and the ability to reach their full potential. At a visit in late 2020, six year old Brooklyn put on her glasses and couldn't stop dancing in her chair and before leaving, she insisted on air-hugging every staff member because she was excited she could finally see clearly. When asked how Eye Thrive's program is helpful to their family, one parent said "because the glasses are free and we need them." That's exactly why we do what we do, and it is our honor to continue providing these essential services during this critical time. Our experience tells us the need is perhaps greater now than ever with so many families unable to access services they need. Our goal is to ensure no child in our community fails to thrive simply because their family cannot afford glasses.

We deliver our services through our Vision Screening, Mobile Vision Clinic, and Free Replacement program. Our Vision Screening and Mobile Vision Clinic (MVC) programs remove the barriers of access and expense that prevent low-income children from receiving vision screenings, eye exams and glasses. \n\nWhile most schools conduct vision screenings, most don’t have sufficiently trained staff, or use methods like the Snellen Chart that can miss up to 70% of vision issues. In 2019, we launched the Vision Screening program to ensure more accurate screening of our kids. This takes the burden off overwhelmed school nurses and ensures accurate screenings by using a state-of-the-art Binoptometer to screen students for both near and far distance, all in about three minutes. This program goes beyond the state mandate of screening distance-only for children in first and third grades, and screens students for near and distance in kindergarten through fifth, seventh, ninth and twelfth grades. Our Screening program allows us to separate children who require further vision testing from those who do not.\n\nChildren who need further testing qualify to receive a free eye exam on our Mobile Vision Clinic (MVC). The MVC is a fully equipped, state-of-the-art optometry center on wheels that visits schools and child-centered organizations at no cost. By visiting each school/library branch year over year, Eye Thrive is following students as they grow up, providing continuity of care which is critical in the monitoring of possible long-term health concerns.\n\nLastly, In April 2020 we expanded our Replacement program to help cope with the changing landscape of need, that often left family finances destabilized virtually overnight. This program now provides free replacement glasses to ANY child aged 4-18 living in within the greater St. Louis community with a valid prescription, no questions asked.

Eye Thrive is deeply committed to our mission of ensuring no child in our community fails to thrive simply because their family cannot afford glasses. The capacity of our dedicated staff, relationships with schools, other community partners and a strong internal dialogue around strategic planning allow us to continue pursuing our mission year after year. \nEye Thrive is a female-led organization with a racially, ethnically and gender-diverse Board of Directors. With extensive experience among staff in teaching, non-profit work, and serving populations in need, our staff knows that low-income children often get used books, secondhand clothes and other less-than-best items. We will always go the extra mile to ensure that every child who boards our MVC feels comfortable and special. \nWe have built several long-lasting relationships with several school districts, library branches and community centers. These relationships have been instrumental in delivering our services over a vast region.\nWe work with an experienced development consultant and have two staff members dedicated to development and marketing. We continually seek to diversify our funding sources between individuals, foundations, corporations and events for long-term sustainability. Our resources come from a variety of

As of early 2021, our programs have provided more than 12,000 free vision screenings, nearly 20,000 free eye exams, and more than 21,000 pairs of free prescription glasses to low-income children in the Saint Louis metropolitan community.\nSince COVID-19 hit we have made a number of program modifications so we can continue ensuring no child in our community fails to thrive simply because their family cannot afford glasses. \nThe children we see on-board our Mobile Vision Clinic are our kids, and as ironic as it sounds, incorporating distance into our service model has brought us closer to those families. This is something we do not want to lose. \nWe will continue working towards our mission, one child, one exam and one pair of glasses at a time.