Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

By Jill Sperling

DAY OF CARING

Ebata Eyecare Day of Caring provides gift of clear vision to people in need

Jul 16, 2019 | 8:57 AM

KAMLOOPS — Living without clear vision poses quite the challenge for people who cannot afford an eye examination or glasses.

Dr. Russ Ebata at Ebata Eyecare provided these services free today to clients of the Mustard Seed and Ask Wellness.

“We provide an eye examination for them, address any health concerns they have for their eyes and their vision concerns and if needed then we’ll dispense them a pair of glasses,” Ebata said.

It’s all part of the annual Day of Caring with the United Way.

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“They’re really in-need people that are just surviving to get by,” Ebata said, “and sometimes giving them a pair of glasses and giving them the ability to see a little bit better it makes all the difference in the world to them.”

Eric Pharey was one of the Day of Caring patients. He hadn’t had his eyes checked since 2013.

“The computer screen screws my vision up,” he said, “but I’m hoping that I’ll actually be able to see the world.”

Pharey says on his current budget he wouldn’t have been able to purchase new glasses.

“I thought about it and I said, ‘well, I’m not going to be able to do it on my own, so I’ll have to take free glasses,'” Pharey said. “And, they’re nice glasses too and they were the first pair I tried on.”

The United Way puts on Days of Caring periodically throughout the year to give back to the community.

“We usually work to connect workplaces with community organizations in need of a project to be done,” said Mikayla Overton, Day of Coordinator for the United Way. “It can be anything from painting a hallway, last year we did a fence, really just whatever the organization needs at that time.”

Ebata says he hopes to expand the program, opening it to other offices as well, and help as many people as possible.

“To give that back to them and make them feel like someone cares again, so to speak,” Ebata said. “Some of these people have gone through hardships that I don’t think I could probably even imagine, and doing something small like getting them a pair of glasses again, so they can read a book or go outside and see peoples’ faces and not feel scared or worried, it’s a really nice, touching feeling.”