Over 400 elementary students in Jurupa Unified have new glasses thanks to a partnership with Vision To Learn, a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 that provides free eye exams and glasses to kids in underserved communities.
“We try to reduce barriers by coming to the school campuses [and] meeting students where they're at,” said Cayla Brooks, Vision To Learn’s program manager for the Inland Empire. “[Our diverse staff] reflects the communities that we're going into to better serve those students and give them a positive experience with health care professionals at such a young age.”
According to Vision To Learn’s website, nearly one in five kids will need glasses to read, see the whiteboard, and participate in class. But in underserved communities across the country, 95% of kids who need glasses do not have them due to financial barriers. Thus, “Vision To Learn was founded to make sure every child has the glasses he or she needs to succeed in school and in life.”
Four JUSD elementary schools benefitted from the partnership: Ina Arbuckle, Rustic Lane, Sky Country, and West Riverside. 1,746 students were screened, with 546 receiving eye exams that resulted in 463 glasses prescribed. Even students who already had glasses were fitted for a new pair.
“[Students are] not able to excel to their full potential until they have all the resources they need, and so to be able to have this partnership to provide the students with those resources, it's just a great opportunity for these families and our community,” stated Allison Hesler, principal of Rustic Lane.
The process began in the fall with vision screenings to determine which kids required eye exams. Then, in January 2022, Vision To Learn returned to campuses with mobile vision clinics, and students selected for vision correction were able to choose from over 30 colorful frames.
On February 15, students at Rustic Lane received their new glasses. Some traded in broken, taped-together frames. Others put on a pair for the first time. 6th-graders Evelyn and Jayden were happy to receive new glasses because their vision had started to become blurry again due to outdated prescriptions.
“It felt fresh,” said Evelyn, sharing what it was like to put on her new glasses. “I can see a lot more.”
“Everything was like a pop of colors,” added Jayden. “I think they will help me with my learning…because I sit farther back in the classroom.”
To celebrate the successful partnership, a special distribution event took place at Ina Arbuckle on March 31, featuring remarks from Vision To Learn leadership along with Superintendent Dr. Trenton Hansen, Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez, and Jurupa Valley Mayor Chris Barajas.
“We are so grateful for our partnership with Vision To Learn,” said Dr. Hansen. “Without this program, many students might continue to needlessly struggle in class simply because they cannot see clearly. Vision To Learn is changing lives and helping all of our students to keep ‘Learning Without Limits’.”
