Nonprofit dedicated to providing free eye care to those in need  

 

VOSH-Illinois

Imagine not being able to see well, this could impact your ability to work and provide for your family.  For young people, blurry vision means not doing well in school.  Many of us take for granted the tremendous impact vision has on our daily lives.  We also take for granted our ability to have access to an eye examination and to be able to get glasses that will help us to see.  The mission of VOSH-Illinois is to evaluate eye health and bring better vision to those in communities locally around the world which have little or no access to eye care. 

VOSH is Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity.  It is an organization of optometrists and other interested individuals who are dedicated to providing vision care to people locally around the world who do not have access to care or cannot afford it.  Have you ever wanted to volunteer, to give back, to roll up your sleeves and do something good, to make a difference, generate good karma, pay it forward?  VOSH allows you to do all of these things.  It is an exciting opportunity to help people locally and abroad that need eye care and glasses.  VOSH allows you to meet people of different cultures, not as a tourist, but as an ambassador of goodwill.  Through VOSH you can experience different cultures and build friendships.  Volunteering with VOSH is hard work, but you will receive a great reward in your sense of accomplishment. 

VOSH was founded in 1972 by Dr. Franklin Harms, an optometrist, under the auspices of the Kansas Optometric Association.  His basic idea was to collect a library of used eyeglasses and distribute them in areas of the world where eye care was unavailable.  In 1976, the Illinois Chapter of VOSH was started by Drs. Gary Blackman, Sol Rocke and John Lancaster.  Since its inception, VOSH Illinois has worked diligently to provide eye care and glasses here in Illinois and on missions to over 40 countries, providing care to over 150,000 people.

VOSH Illinois is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and charitable organization.  VOSH is nongovernmental and nonreligious.  VOSH Illinois is a tax exempt 501(c) (3) entity.