Hundreds of Homeless in Sydney, Australia now Wearing Prada Eyeglasses
OneSight, a charitable foundation, partnered with Salvation Army, has given hundreds of residents at the Foster House homeless shelter in Sydney’s Surry Hills free eye exams and designer eyeglasses this month.
In the first two days of the venture, which started on June 15, 237 homeless received free eye tests, and 182 eyeglasses were made.
According to the Australian Associated Press, 80 % of the glasses were recycled or from surplus stocks from eyewear retailers.
The Salvation Army Major Marina Randall said this venture is important because for many homeless, eye tests are not a priority, but good vision is so important for a livable life.
OneSight operates in Australia, the United States, and Italy.
They have a global program that outreaches to developing countries, then regional and community programs that provide free eye care in their home countries. They also have a preventative program, that does research on the disorders that affect vision.
For more information, get a vision test of become involved, visit www.onesight.org.
Severe Hail Storm in Eastern China leaves Thousands Homeless
Hail storms in the eastern China province of Anhui, one of the poorest parts of the country, destroyed 9,000 homes, leaving 14 dead, 180 injured, and over 10,000 homeless, said the Civil Affairs bureau in Anhui.
According to France 24 International News, this second storm caused 65 million dollars in damage.
Anhui is experiencing typhoon season, and this was the second disastrous storm this month. The first one killed 23 people and injured 200.
China officials fear further storms, and contingency plans are needed.
SunWise Hands Out Free Sunscreen for the Homeless in Edinburgh, Scotland
SunWise, a charity organization dedicated to offering skin protection to the poor, is distributing free sunscreen lotion to the homeless at hostels, hospitals and other health facilities throughout Edinburgh this summer.
According to BBC News, UK, “Malignant melanoma is the most rapidly increasing cancer in the UK, largely due to sun exposure.”
The organization posted posters throughout the city, to give the homeless information how to obtain their sunscreen.
Fifty Homeless and Formally Homeless to Earn Associate’s Degrees at St. John’s University
The New York Department of Homeless Services unveiled a new program June 11 that will enroll 47 homeless or formally homeless people at St. John’s University to earn an associate’s degree. The DHS program, called the Advantage Academy, will provide the homeless and formally homeless with an education in the fields of Information Technology and Business, the New York DHS news release said.
According to Newsday, in addition to the DHS paying tuition for these 40 scholars, they will also provide free housing, school supplies and other special services.
School supplies include books, laptops, and even notebooks and pencils, said Dr. James Pellow, executive vice president of St. John’s campus in TriBeCa.
