Free Glasses for All: Mom, Dad, and Daughter Receive Glasses

Lillian, a recent high school graduate, had been struggling with her vision for quite a while, but she had never been prescribed eyeglasses. She was about to begin her first semester of college to become a radiologic technician. Correcting her vision before classes began became a priority — getting free glasses from RAM was just the thing she needed. 

After receiving a phone call from her mother about the upcoming Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic, and researching RAM online, Lillian decided to get an eye examination. Her mom, Nicole, was there to help her choose her frames and encourage her. She tried on almost 10 pairs before she found the perfect frames for her first pair of glasses.  

“I just think [my vision] will overall be better, especially in my classes for school and stuff,” Lillian said. 

Lillian needed care but didn’t know if she “qualified” to receive services at our free clinic. But her mom, a RAM Volunteer, explained that no qualifications are required to receive care from RAM. All she had to do was show up to receive her free glasses.

“She felt like — she didn’t know if they qualified people, so I kind of had to do a little convincing,” Nicole said. 

First-Time Volunteer and First-Time Patient

This was Nicole’s first-time volunteering with RAM. She wanted the chance to give back to her community and help patients to feel comfortable while getting care. She was ready to jump in wherever needed.  

Nicole volunteered in vision dispensing — helping patients choose their new pair of glasses. Little did she know, a few hours later she would help her daughter and husband choose their new pairs of glasses.  

After seeing the free, quality vision care patients were receiving, Nicole called Lillian and her husband, Bill, recommending they come get eye examinations too. 

Free Glasses for the Whole Family

While the family has medical insurance, they don’t have dental or vision insurance. The costs of the additional coverage were too high. Many people in this situation go without care for years. Neither Lillian nor her parents had a vision exam in at least five years. 

Going years without an updated prescription forced Nicole to reposition her glasses using her hands to be able to see at different distances. At the clinic she received an updated prescription, and her new trifocal glasses were shipped to her within six weeks, along with Bill’s bifocals. 

“I told [Bill] this is just a Godsend. You know when you pray about things and all of a sudden . . . it just seemed like, you know, it showed up at the right time,” Nicole said. Bill nodded in agreement. 

Nicole, Bill, and Lillian each saw the optometrist for an eye exam and helped each other pick out a new pair of glasses. Without RAM the family would have spent hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. 

Expedition #1,598 in Terre Haute, Indiana bridged the gap in healthcare coverage for hundreds of patients like Lillian and Bill — thanks to help from volunteers like Nicole.  

“Oh my gosh, it’s been wonderful,” Nicole said. “Next year we’ll probably be here all three days to help. It’s really wonderful for the community.” 

Supporting RAM

Volunteers like Nicole, people just wanting to get involved to help their community, are what RAM is all about. Neighbors helping neighbors. If you’d like to volunteer to help your neighbors, please visit www.ramusa.org/volunteer.

Free glasses help young people like Lillian continue on their path to success. A $75 donation to RAM covers the costs of a pair of glasses. A donation of $100 covers the cost of the eye exam needed before patients can get their new glasses. Please consider donating today!

Have you read our other blog posts? Be sure to catch up on any you may have missed!

RAM’s magazine is free. Download it today!

Follow RAM on social media! You won’t want to miss our next viral moment!

Support RAM through Walmart’s Spark Good Program! Round up your purchases and donate the difference to RAM’s mission.