NYC Mayor Visits Tzu Chi’s VIsion Care Outreach

On February 26, 2023, Tzu Chi New York hosted a vision mobile service at the NYPD Community Center in Brooklyn, New York. 15 patients in total, regardless of insurance status, received prescription glasses in same-day service—100% for free.

The opportunity was made possible thanks to a link with the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau. Detective Alicia Arquer explains that it’s a valuable service for New Yorkers: “a lot of people… they cannot afford these glasses… so it’s great that [Tzu Chi’s] able to provide this for them.”

New York City school student Carlisle Ward is one such person. After his previous pair broke, both he and his mother were surprised to find out he’d receive a brand new pair. Carlisle explained, “I didn’t know that I was going to get new glasses. I thought they were just going to check my eyes,” Carlisle explained.

In less than an hour, he had stylish new frames. “I can see better, see things clearly,” he describes. His mother, Darra Ward, was equally surprised: “I feel very appreciative.”

To round out the days’ success, the Tzu Chi Vision Mobile team were visited by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who toured the vision mobile units and saw the entire process, from start-to-finish, of making prescription glasses for patients.

Of the future for Tzu Chi Medical and the City of New York, Detective Arquer is hopeful: “I definitely want to continue this partnership with Tzu Chi, and hopefully we can go all across the city and provide all these services. I love helping the community.”

Keep watching and help us keep important programs like this going at donate.tzuchi.us/cause/ny.