Accepting Applicants for Kenya Mission Trip Grant

February 09, 2012

Eyes of Faith Optical and Sight Ministries to Deliver Eye Care for Estimated 1600 Kenyans

Eyewear Company Contributes Wear & Share™ Glasses, Sunglasses, and Grants for Mission Trip

October 19, 2012 – Sharon, Pa. – Eyes of Faith Optical and Sight Ministries continue to partner in the delivery of vision and hope to those in need. Today, Eyes of Faith President and Co-founder Jim Schneider will join Sight Ministries International representatives, two doctors, and five opticians on his second Kenyan mission trip with goals to provide eye exams and eyeglasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses to more than 1600 Kenyan citizens.

"This year in Kenya, we are humbled and honored to have a number of Eyes of Faith optical partners traveling with us to deliver hope," said Schneider. "Together, we represent everyone that believes in our product and our mission to reach as many people as possible around the world who are in need of eye care."

For this year's mission, Eyes of Faith, the Fellowship of Christian Optometrists International, Sight Ministries International, and individual opticians and doctors who support the Eyes of Faith brand collaborated to raise and contribute grants nearing $11,000 to assemble an effective team including two doctors and five opticians. On Sunday, a large church will host the group for a worship service, during which Schneider will share the Eyes of Faith story. Monday and Tuesday's schedule includes delivering eye exams and eyewear to an estimated 1400 Kenyans. The team will then travel several hours to remote villages on Wednesday and Thursday to deliver an additional estimated 200 exams and glasses or sunglasses.

Dr. Glenn Ellisor and Jim Schneider assist the Sight Ministries team during the 2011 Kenya mission trip.

"Like Eyes of Faith, we exist to serve God and to provide vision and hope to people who need it most," Dr. Glenn Ellisor, Sight Ministries board member, and founder and CEO of Vision Source has said. "Our respective missions are strengthened by our partnership and when we can work together like this, it means we have the opportunity to touch more lives in more places. When we fit someone with a pair of sunglasses to protect them from cataracts, or with a pair of glasses that allows them to see like never before, we're doing it not for our own sense of accomplishment, but to serve God."

The Eyes of Faith vision is for people to wear their faith-inspired, designer eyewear and share their faith through the gift of sight. Through their Wear & Share™ program, the Eyes of Faith Foundation donates a complete pair of prescription glasses, sunglasses, or readers to Sight Ministries for every frame sold. These Wear & Share donations provide eyewear for Sight MInistries' missions to Kenya, Turkey, Panama, Peru, and many other countries where eye care is not readily available. To facilitate successful missions, Sight Ministries partners with missionaries and indigenous pastors to conduct multiple eye clinics; visitors to the clinics receive eye exams and prescription glasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses at little or no cost.

Eyes of Faith creates frames for family members of all ages with elements that tastefully communicate faith, and through Wear & Share, a complete pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses is donated to Sight Ministries for every frame sold. The Eyes of Faith collection features classic and contemporary prescription frames and sunglasses that include the hope-inspired logo and subtle, refined details that communicate faith. Eyes of Faith also designs and distributes the VeggieTales Eyewear for Children collection, and will ship its first collection for the popular Not of This World (NOTW) clothing and accessories brand in late October. All Eyes of Faith collections are available at independent eye care professionals nationwide.

Read official release here >