In the midst of the chaos that has become the new “normal,” it’s important to remember our mission at Hawaiian Eye Foundation. We remain dedicated to promoting optimal eye care through compassionate service and education. We are proud to serve the blind poor and train doctors around the world to build sustainable clinics in remote regions. Our work will continue.
In today’s uncertainty, with all of the travel restrictions and stay at home orders, we find ourselves unable to plan immediate missions. Those that were scheduled, missions and trainings established over a year ago, have had to be postponed at this time. Our office has been reduced to minimal activity to ensure that we can stay financially able to navigate these unknown waters. We are here, and we will resume our fight against curable blindness in the months ahead. Our annual Eye Meetings in SE Asia have been delayed, as well as the Training for Residents that visit the US each year as a part of the Lancaster Scholar Program. We miss the interaction with our patients and worldwide friends we have come to love as members of our ‘ohana (family). Yet, we are still here!
We will resume operations when it is safe for our staff, our volunteers and our patients. Currently we are partnering with our sister organization, Project Vision Hawaii, to provide for the needs of the homeless during this time of great stress. Our portable showers are in use, our large vans are ready to aid in deliveries of supplies, food, water and educational information to the elderly, school aged children, and houseless families on the islands. We are helping with federal SNAP applications to ensure families affected by the loss of jobs have funds for food. We continue to work with the State and City to be a part of solutions to ensure safety of our front-line responders. No job is too small or task to0 menial. We all can help in our own way during this crisis. It could be a pledge, a phone call or a prayer! Until then, we’ll find ways to help where we can.
If there are emergency eye situations, please email us at contact@hawaiianeyefoundation.org. We can help refer to ophthalmologists and optometrists that are able to help. We are checking emails and phone messages. We wish to thank all those people in essential positions in our communities that are going to work each day and allowing us to continue to battle COVID-19. Our hearts and prayers are with all those on the front lines, all those affected by the virus, their families, friends and our neighbors – we are all affected by this epidemic.
Please continue to follow the CDC regulations and do your part to prevent further spread. We cherish our relationships with patients, donors, sponsors, partners and Board members. We thank you for your continuing support of our work. When this is behind us, and many find new hope for many reasons, may we all pause and give thanks. We will continue to stand firm with each of you, confident that our relationship will grow stronger through tough times and we will carry on our legacy to fight curable cataract blindness with your help. We stand strong with you!
Stay positive and stay well!
ke Akua e hoopomaikai ia oe!
Darrah and Emma
HEF’s Executive Team