Students in instructor Norman Zurn’s Comm 1010 classes have been working hard to collect as many eyeglasses as possible in an effort to improve eyesight for villagers in Uganda.
Zurn promotes volunteerism among his students, and his three classes have already collected several hundred eyeglasses, but they would like to expand that into the thousands.
“One of the great things is students are getting involved and not just reading text books,” said Zurn.
Students are collecting a variety of eyeglasses, such as prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses and sunglasses.
The eyeglasses will be given to Dr. John Shavers, a clinical psychologist from the University of Utah.
Shavers and a team of U of U students will take the collection of eyeglasses to Uganda in June
According to Shavers, the eyeglasses will be sorted and checked for prescription before leaving Utah, and villagers in Uganda will be given eye exams in order to fit the patients with correct eyeglass prescriptions.
“The people of Uganda live along the Equator and the sun is very damaging to their eyes,” said Shavers. “Mostly older individuals over 40 have needed eyeglasses for a long time, and have never had the opportunity to own a pair. They show extreme gratefulness when they receive their first pair of glasses.”
Zurn’s students have been working through a variety of media to promote the drive, including posters and flyers, emails and a YouTube video developed in coordination with the Communication Department.
Several donation boxes will be placed around various SLCC campuses and throughout the community, such as at Primary Children’s Medical Center and the Red Rock Café in Park City.
