What an incredible weekend we had at the Veterans Raising Children Vision Health Fair!
We set out with a mission to serve, and the results exceeded our expectations. Together, we successfully completed 122 vision screenings, serving a beautiful cross-section of our community: veterans, seniors, and children. Alongside the vision clinic, we conducted vital health screenings and facilitated life-saving blood donations.
The energy in the building was truly magnetic. Not only did we reach the community we directly marketed to, but the location we hosted the fair (India Hub, 930 Nat’l Pkwy, Schaumburg) also runs weekly clinics on topics ranging from CPR training to acupuncture.
As individuals finished those programs, they heard the buzz, saw our setup, and walked right in to join us. It was a fantastic event that organically grew to support the health of the community thank you again to Schaumburg Township and the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs for helping to make it happen.
"Not All Veterans Wear Fatigues"
While this health fair was deeply rooted in serving our veterans, we know that not all veterans wear fatigues. There are men and women who are boots on the ground making major impacts in our local neighborhoods every single day. We want to highlight a few of those heroes who stepped up when it mattered most.
Caleb Oeming | Waubonsee Community College Nursing Program When an early planning partner unexpectedly had to back away from the event due to a death in their family, we scrambled to find a new medical screening partner. Caleb raised his hand and answered the call. As a devout Christian, Caleb saw an opportunity to serve our veterans, children, and our most vulnerable community members. He stepped right in and made a massive difference by beautifully leading our medical screening station.
Megan Monti | Case Manager, Taking Control Megan is a force for our youth and veterans, providing comprehensive mental health access and removing barriers to care. She raised her hand to speak at our fair, and though she confessed she has stage fright, you absolutely could not tell. She delivered a phenomenal talk emphasizing how the brand of care our veterans need must be compassionate, coordinated, and accessible for the entire family. Exciting Update: Megan is currently leading a pet therapy pilot in partnership with FTD Ministry and the All Pets Wellness Foundation.
Diana Lakstutis | U.S. Veteran & Entrepreneur Diana graced our speaker series to discuss the transition from military life to civilian life, and ultimately, to entrepreneurship. Our military women face staggering statistics, including higher levels of anxiety (87%) and depression (83%). We are incredibly grateful for vital voices like Diana's, shedding light on how to overcome these unique challenges and live a passionate life full of intention and purpose.
The Mission Continues: We Need Your Help
Despite the massive success of our vision screening clinic, our work is not done.
Through our ongoing outreach, we have identified an additional 278 students in the Schaumburg area who have failed one or more vision screenings. They are currently sitting on our waitlist to receive the corrective glasses they desperately need to succeed in the classroom.
Our recent community Health Fair was flooded with attendees, revealing just how great the local need is. We have identified hundreds of students across Districts 46, 54, and 211 whose families simply cannot afford essential eye care.
We have the prescriptions. We have the students. We just need the funding to make their glasses.
This is where our village steps in. We have launched an emergency community campaign to bridge this funding gap and restore sight to these 278 children.
Please visit our GiveSendGo campaign to sponsor a student's sight today:
Whether you can provide glasses for one student or an entire classroom, your contribution will immediately remove a massive barrier to their education and daily life.
Please give what you can and share this link with your network!
Thank you for being part of this movement. Together, we are raising the standard of care for our veterans and our children.
Warmly,
When you’re ready, here are 3 ways we can collaborate:
1. Explore the Vision @FTDMinistry.org: Don't just read it, see it in action. Discover how our youth program Exhale open mic is turning our Kids into Creators.
2. Be a Messenger: There is a veteran in your circle who needs support. Forward our Health Fair to your network and turn a single share into a blessing.
3. Serve Those Who Served: We need friendly faces on Feb 28th! Join us on the front lines as we provide vision and medical screenings supporting military families.