A Kelowna woman is hoping to give the gift of sight to residents in Cuba in the New Year.
Catharine Goheen is an optician and owner of Dr. Specs Optical in Kelowna.
Goheen is collecting 1,000 eyeglasses to donate to a hospital in Cuba.
The glasses will be given to doctors, nurses and families of patients at the hospital.
Goheen got involved with a humanitarian trip to deliver glasses and provide eye care to residents in developing countries 16 years ago.
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Since then, glasses donated in the Okanagan have found their way to places such as Brazil, Argentina, Mozambique and Chile.
“We have changed lives, thousands of thousands of lives,” Goheen said. “We empowered them to go back to work and these people were unbelievably thankful because they are now independent.”
Goheen says the donation of a pair of glasses can restore sight to someone in need.
“As soon as you lose that vision, what does that mean? A watch repairman can now dig a ditch, can plant a seed?” she said. “By getting glasses to them, it allows them to stay in their profession.”
If you would like to donate some glasses, there is still time; Goheen leaves for Cuba on January 3.
You can drop off your used pair of glasses at Dr. Specs Optical in Orchard Plaza in Kelowna or at the location at Penticton Plaza.
Sunglasses, prescription reading glasses, prescription distance, bifocals, progressive, single vision and distance glasses are being collected.
If you are unable to donate eyewear before January 3, another volunteer from Kelowna will be leaving for Cuba mid-January and will take any glasses donated after the initial deadline.
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