AMIGOS Eye Care Service Trip to Costa Rica

AMIGOS Eye Care is a non-profit student-led organization at Pacific University College of Optometry that has been operating since 1975 and has been in affiliation with VOSH International since 2006. Our primary goal is to provide free eye care to underprivileged nations around the world by coordinating missions to places with little access to health care.

This March, AMIGOS Eye Care will be working with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation (Fundación Humanitaria Costarricense). This service trip will be the 12th mission sending Amigos members to serve communities in Costa Rica and our third time working with CRHF, as well as being our first time returning to Costa Rica since 2019. A team of 12 optometry students, 3 doctors, and 1 volunteer will be serving the community of La Carpio in San Jose, comprised of over 35,000 Nicaraguan refugees that have been displaced due to civil war, natural disasters, and poverty that resulted in severe food scarcity. We are estimating seeing approximately 1,000 patients, providing them with complete eye health exams and glasses.

There are many expenses involved with organizing and realizing our international eye care mission trip. These expenses include travel, lodging, food, and equipment necessary for providing care to underserved communities. However, as the majority of our team members are students, the costs associated with airplane travel, in-country transportation, meals, and hotel fees are still substantial.

Various organizations and individuals such as yourself have been very gracious in donating used eyeglasses and diagnostic equipment. Your generous donation to our campaign will help us to offset those costs for our students to help make an impact in the La Carpio community that otherwise has little access to eye care.

We greatly appreciate your consideration in donating any amount that you are capable of giving. Providing vision care for an underserved population is a very fulfilling endeavor and the gratitude shown by the people in need goes much beyond words.

If you would like to find out more about our trip please visit the AMIGOS Eye Care SVOSH Chapter website at http://amigoseyecare.org/.

A tax-deductible receipt can be sent after donation upon request.

Meet our team!

Third-year members - Amanda Ackerson, Emily Bittman, Alyssa Chow, Mieke De Freitas, Jordan Garcia, Michelle Paul, Meagan Seufert, Rheanne Van Spengen, and Anna Wisdom

Second-year members - Nikole Espino and Claudia Solomon

First-year member - Allison Wilkes