Posts Tagged ‘American Red Cross’

Purchase with a Purpose

How often can you buy something and support a good cause at the same time? At Eyeconic, you can. Here’s how it works: For every box of contact lenses purchased on our site, we donate $1 to the American Red Cross. The donation comes out of our pocket, not yours. And you don’t even have to fill out a form. It’s that simple.

The American Red Cross is an amazing resource for communities during and after natural disasters. There’s been a lot of extreme weather this summer, and the Red Cross has always been there to help. When flood waters drove thousands in North Dakota from their homes, the Red Cross offered shelter and food. When first-responders were battling wildfires in Oklahoma, the Red Cross was helping keep them hydrated. After the tornadoes in Alabama, the Red Cross was there again.

The Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts are well known. You might be familiar with their collection and distribution of lifesaving blood, but the organization does so much more. It offers community services to the needy; support for military members and their families; educational efforts that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs. The need is ongoing.

Most of us are on a tight budget, so I think it’s a real plus to be able to have a donation go to the American Red Cross without adding anything to the cost of my purchase. So, if you got your initial supply of contacts from your doctor and want to reorder online, check out the competitively priced selection at Eyeconic.

Know we carefully verify your prescription. Know that shipping is free. Know that you can virtually try-on really cool sunglasses and find nearby VSP doctors that carry them. And know that every box of contacts you purchase from us comes with a compassionate donation.

VSP responds to disaster in Alabama

Mobile Clinic Manager Niki Myers (right) stands with a patient who was finally able to see again with her new glasses.

After the devastating storms that plagued the South in late April, VSP Mobile Eyes set its sights on helping the affected residents see clearly again. A disaster response team of VSP employees headed to Tuscaloosa, AL, where hundreds of homes were destroyed. Our fully equipped, 45-foot mobile eye exam clinic, Eyenstein, enabled us, in partnership with students and doctors from the University of Alabama Optometry School (UAB) and VSP network doctors, to provide free eye exams and eyewear to those who lost or had their glasses broken during the tornadoes.  

We set up at the Red Cross shelter in Tuscaloosa and coordinated with the UAB to provide services. Each day proved to be busier than the last. With four portable exam stations in addition to the mobile clinic, we were able to help 79 patients in one day, with a seven-day total of more than 400 patients!  

Some of the patients had prescriptions so strong they literally could not see right in front of them without glasses and had to feel around them with their arms and hands.  Can you imagine not being able to see after a tornado devastated your town? It reiterates the importance of VSP’s disaster response services.  

To help keep up with the high volume of patients, UAB provided two to three doctors per day as well as fourth-year students to assist with pre-testing, paperwork and patient flow in the lab. Many VSP providers volunteered their time and services as well.  

The scene in Tuscaloosa was heart wrenching, but it was also inspiring to see how a community comes together in times of need. On almost every corner, neighbors were providing food, water or whatever supplies were available to help each other. Bess the Book Bus, a mobile literacy program that VSP is a sponsor of, also eased children’s minds when she visited the shelter one day to read to them and hand out free books.  

The team is now on its way to Pratt City, Ala., where it will set up at the local Red Cross shelter.

VSP Disaster Response

Hobby Lobby in Tuscaloosa, AL

VSP is actively conducting outreach to assist those affected by the tornadoes, flooding and severe weather that devastated numerous Southern and Midwestern states. VSP Mobile Eyes is in Tuscaloosa, AL with Eyenstein, our mobile clinic in partnership with Transitions Optical. Working with the local Red Cross chapter, and with the help of University of Alabama Birmingham Optometry students and VSP network providers, our disaster response team is identifying opportunities to provide free eye exams and glasses to victims in need.

We are working closely with all relief agencies, including the American Red Cross, to ensure all who are directly affected by the tornadoes or flooding and have eyecare needs receive that care.  We have provided the American Red Cross with more than $1.15M worth of eyecare vouchers to cover eye exams and materials for anyone in the affected areas with broken or lost glasses. We are also working with our providers who may be in need of assistance to continue operations as a result of damage to their practices.

I Need New Glasses
Were your glasses lost or damaged due to one of the recent natural disasters? You have enough to worry about, so let us help you see again.

  • VSP Members: Call the Member Services Support Line at 800.877.7195 for reinstatement of your benefits, regardless of eligibility.
  • Non-members: Contact your local American Red Cross chapter and request a VSP eyecare voucher.

VSP Providers: How can VSP help?
We are contacting providers in affected areas as fast as possible. We will continue to follow up with those affected by the most recent tornadoes into next week. If you are in an affected area and have not yet been contacted, please let us know how you are doing and if your practice is damaged or closed. You can email vspoutreach@vsp.com or call 800.852.7600 ext. 7373. We are available to assist you to help you continue to provide care for your patients. The VSP mobile eyecare clinics  are ready to provide support to doctors in affected areas as needed.  Two clinics are already in affected regions, one in Little Rock, AR, and one on its way to Tuscaloosa, AL.  

 VSP has extended outreach efforts to the following affected areas: 

  • April 9th: Tornado in Iowa
  • April 10th: Tornado in Wisconsin
  • April 11th: Tornadoes in North Carolina, Virginia and Kaufman & Johnson Counties in Texas
  • April 11th: Flooding in Fargo & Cass Counties in North Dakota and Becker & Clay County in Minnesota
  • April 13th: Tornadoes in Mississippi, Oklahoma and Arkansas
  • April 27th: Tornadoes in Alabama and Georgia

Disaster Relief for TN Floods

Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

With the disastrous Tennessee flooding continuing to cause major problems throughout the region, VSP wants to remind our doctors, members and non-members of disaster relief services available from VSP, if you are affected by the flooding or any type of natural disaster.

VSP Network Doctors in affected areas: Please email vspoutreach@vsp.com or call 800.852.7600 ext. 5697 to let us know how you are doing and if your office is damaged or closed. We are available to offer any assistance you may need so you can continue to provide care to your patients.

A car is pinned up against a tree by floodwater flowing under a bridge on Sunday, May 2, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. Severe storms dumped heavy rain on Tennessee for the second straight day. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

A car is pinned up against a tree by floodwater flowing under a bridge on Sunday, May 2, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. Severe storms dumped heavy rain on Tennessee for the second straight day. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

VSP Members in affected areas: If you have lost or broken your glasses due to a disaster and need replacements, you (or your VSP doctor’s office) can call VSP’s Customer Care at 800.877.7195 for an authorization for new services.

Non-VSP members in affected areas: If you are a non-VSP member and have lost or broken your glasses due to a disaster and need replacements, you may request a free VSP eyecare voucher from the local American Red Cross.

To find VSP doctor locations, use the “Find a Doctor” feature on vsp.com or contact Customer Care at 800.877.7195.

Help Needed in Haiti

Donate to the American Red Cross to help relief efforts in Haiti.

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