Mobile Eye Clinics by the Numbers
– Over 215 free vision clinics held in 113 different locations since October 2008
– Over 7,500 free vision screenings provided through 60 different agencies and organizations
– Over 6,350 free new pairs of custom prescription eyewear have been dispensed
– 1 in 5 adults are diagnosed with cataracts, glaucoma, or other sight-stealing pathology
– 50% of patients treated are school children or at-risk youth under the age of 18
– 18 to 24 month waiting list for Mission Vision services (at our current capacity)
Our Valued Partner Providers
Beaver County Association for the Blind, Bethlehem Haven, Brashear Association, East End Cooperative Ministries, Jubilee Soup Kitchen, Latino Family Center, Light of Life Rescue Mission, Lighthouse Foundation, LIVING Ministry, North Hills Community Outreach, North Side Christian Health Center, Operation Safety Net, Pine Valley Bible Camp, Pleasant Valley Shelter, several Salvation Army locations, Urban Impact, Veterans Leadership Program, Veterans Place, Washington City Mission, and public schools in the following districts: Aliquippa, Allegheny Valley, Ambridge, Deer Lakes, Farrell, Hermitage, McKeesport, Pittsburgh, Riverside Beaver, Sharon, West Middlesex and Woodland Hills
Mission Vision is not structured to work directly with the public. We serve exclusively through referrals from other non-profit, partner providers, which supply our mutual clients with food, shelter, health care, and education. This efficient service model ensures that those in greatest need of our care, receive it.
Demand for Eye Care Services
Due to the growing demand among seniors, school age children and military veterans, Mission Vision places special emphasis on serving these populations. By the grace of God, we have been able to greatly increase service to children and veterans over the past few years, without sacrificing a commitment to our homeless and unemployed/working poor neighbors. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to school nurses who help make this possible, as well as to The Veterans Leadership Program and Veterans Place, both of which invite Mission Vision to provide a free eye services to their annual events to benefit homeless veterans in our local community.
The average wait for a new partner provider to host a free eye clinic is 18 to 24 months. To address the enormous need, Mission Vision has hired an optometrist, an ophthalmic technician and an optician to consistently work with the ministry, enabling us to provide a fully staffed eye clinic once per week – every week throughout the year. Although Mission Vision receives generous support from PNC Charitable Trust, The Birmingham Foundation, and the Ralph Cestone Foundation, such funding represents less than 15% of contributions.
The vast majority of Mission Vision’s annual budget comes from individuals, churches, and other private groups. Without their financial expression of confidence in Mission Vision, none of what Mission Vision does would be possible.
Overwhelming need for the free eye care services provided by Mission Vision continues to grow. As a result, Mission Vision is fervently submitting grant applications to foundations all over the region. New grants received will be applied to paring the wait time for services to 12 to 18 months.