Village of Vision for Haiti

In December Dr. Gifford travels to Haiti and volunteers with a foundation that runs two orphanages and a school. The next trip is planned for December 2011.  You can learn more about the organization we work with; Village of Vision for Haiti Foundation by visiting http://www.vvhf.org/Donations for lenses and frames for our trip are welcome and encouraged at Red Eye through the end of December.  When we return we will use those donations (every penny to be exact) to purchase, fabricate, and send back the new glasses for each child who needs them.  If you can’t stop by the office and wish to send a donation please call the office any time to arrange a payment.   You can see photos from last year’s trip below.

Haiti – December 2009:

IHS International Health Service in Honduras

Dr Gifford is on the Board of Directors for a medical group based out of Minnesota called International Health Service. The group consists of about 100 surgeons, general practitioners, G.I. doctors, dentists, pharmacists, engineers, radio operators, and general helpers.  The volunteers are teamed into about 10 teams that travel to 10 different villages in Honduras. The medications and instruments used by the group are purchased from private donations and fundraising events.  The glasses which are used are donated through the Wisconsin Lions Club then shipped to International Health Service;  in Minnesota. From there they are picked up by a semi-truck in December and driven down to Louisiana, where they are put an a barge to La Ceiba, Honduras.  The trucking and barge travel is all donated by Dole Fruit.  The trip on the barge takes several weeks and once they arrive they are sorted and put on another boat that travels from La Ceiba to Puerto Lempira.  In February, the team arrives by small aircraft to Puerto Lempira, sort the glasses and medication, set up the eye clinic and work  for the next 2 weeks.

Honduras 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011:

Gads Hill Center

Dr. Gifford volunteers weekly at Gads Hill Center for a community program called New Horizons.  New Horizons is a mentoring program aimed to provide positive role models to middle school students in the Pilsen community. Pilsen ranks second among Chicago’s neighborhoods for the percentage of adults (56%) without a high school degree, and nearly one of out of three students in Pilsen drops out of high school. Also, gang presence in the area exposes students to violence on a regular basis.

New Horizons is an early intervention program that serves at-risk middle school students. With the support of a mentor, every student is exposed to a variety of new and exciting experiences that challenge and engage the student in academic and social activities. By establishing one-on-one relationships, mentors will be able to support the student on their journey to high school, ready to perform at his/her best.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a mentor please contact Xavier at Gads Hill Center (312) 226-2747

In January 2011 Dr. Gifford and the Red Eye staff spent a day giving the kids at Gads Hill Center vision screenings.  Approximately 20 kids received brand new glasses donated in full by Red Eye.