VOSH Illinois

09/10/2025

✨ Big thanks to SVOSH at ICO for hosting us! VOSH Illinois Treasurer, Dennis Evashenk, spoke to future optometrists about the work of VOSH/International and the importance of giving back through community service.

We’re grateful for the commitment shown by Illinois College of Optometry students—together we’re shaping a future where quality eye care is accessible to all. 👓🌍

🌟 Want to get involved? Join VOSH-Illinois and help bring the gift of sight to communities in need!

➡️VOLUNTEER: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLHc-3ls61iKDCOYDqvTKK4rKRN9OP_yYYcI4zZyEZaXyBnw/viewform
➡️DONATE: https://vosh-illinois.org/donate-online/

07/24/2025

👁️ Calling all volunteers! 👁️
VOSH-Illinois is looking for volunteers to join us at our upcoming community vision clinic!

Help us provide free eye exams, glasses, and resources to those in need — and be part of a team committed to making quality eye care accessible for all.

📅 Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2025
📍 Location: Revive Center for Housing and Healing
🙌 Open to optometrists, students, and volunteers — all are welcome!

Sign up to volunteer here 👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCBD6Cp1liJ2B_Q2oGGrpil8pP2Ie56_BvFujd9qrlNZPNUg/viewform

Let’s come together to bring vision care to our local community. 💙

Please register below to volunteer at our VOSH-IL clinic with Revive Saturday, 10/4/25. The clinic will be at 1668 W Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60612 with set up at 8am // Clinic starting at 9am // last patients entering at 2pm. Please email info@vosh-illinois.org with any questions.

07/24/2025

Looking to get more involved with VOSH-Illinois?
Now’s a great time to become a member and stay connected with our mission to provide vision care to those who need it most—locally and around the world.

As a member, you’ll get updates on:
👁️ Volunteer opportunities
🌍 Local and international clinics
📬 Chapter news and events

Whether you’re a student, optometrist, or someone passionate about eye health, there’s a place for you in our community.

➡️ Join us today and be part of the difference:

Thank you for being part of VOSH IL. You will receive an invoice via email within one week of submission of this form to pay your dues. If you are interested in donating to the organization as well, please use the following link: https://vosh-illinois.org/donate-online/

04/21/2025

April is National Volunteer Month — and there’s no better time to celebrate the heart of VOSH-Illinois: our volunteers.

From local clinics in our own communities to global outreach trips, VOSH-IL volunteers bring vision, compassion, and care to those who need it most. Whether you’re an optometrist, student, technician, optician, volunteer, or supporter, your time and dedication make a lasting impact.

This month, we honor every pair of hands and every act of service that helps us work toward a world without preventable vision loss.

Thank you for being the driving force behind our mission. We appreciate you, and we couldn’t do this without you.

04/16/2025

This past weekend, VOSH-IL partnered with Sarah's Circle to provide free eye care to 44 women experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Together, we made 39 pairs of no-cost prescription glasses, distributed free reading glasses and sunglasses, and made 10 referrals for further care.

We were proud to be joined by our community partners Tapestry 360 Health and CountyCare who provided additional health resources to clients.

This clinic wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of Illinois College of Optometry students, our dedicated volunteers, and the generosity of the EssilorLuxottica foundation and National Vision, who supplied the glasses.

Thank you to everyone who made this day a success! You can support our work further at vosh-illinois.org.

03/27/2025

Hello Volunteers and Community Members! 👋
We are hosting another Chicago-based free vision clinic at Sarah's Circle on Saturday April 12th, 2025 from 9am to 2pm. Sarah's Circle provides housing and support to women experiencing homelessness. Join us in serving this community.

🧑‍💻Sign up to volunteer: https://forms.gle/VXYroPZhAR7ZJQNa8
We look forward to seeing you! 🤓

Please register below to volunteer at our VOSH-IL clinic with Sarah's Circle Saturday, 4/12/25. The clinic will be at 4737 N Sheridan Rd. with set up at 8am // Clinic starting at 9am // last patients entering at 2pm. Please email info@vosh-illinois.org with any questions.

01/26/2025

Another successful day of service in the books for VOSH-IL! Thanks to all of our partners including Family Matters Chicago, Tapestry 360 Health, Swedish Hospital, and Gale Community Academy.

This day couldn't have been possible without the efforts organized by Dr. Christina DalPorto, VOSH-IL Vice President; our 25 optometry students from SVOSH at ICO, 4 ODs, 1 optician, and 25 interpreters and volunteers. Together we were able to provide comprehensive eye care to 95 people and glasses for 85 people.

Visit our website https://vosh-illinois.org/ to support our work and learn about future volunteer opportunities.

12/12/2024

📢 Sharing international volunteer opportunities from our fellow chapters:

SD VOSH needs ODs for a Mexico mission 2/1st-9th/2025. Contact SDVOSH@gmail.com

SVOSH @ UC Berkeley need volunteers for Grenada and Jamaica: This chapter needs students and ODs for April 12-18th, 2025 and June 7-14th, 2025. Contact Maxwell.x.cheng@kp.org

12/10/2024

Calling all Volunteers!
We are hosting a clinic with Family Matters Saturday Jan 11th and we need your help!
Contact info@vosh-illinois.org to sign up.

10/09/2021

Meet Dr. Mel Muchnik our VOSHer of the month!

For the last 11years, Mel and his wife Janet have been involved with VOSH, or Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. Mel has been on 14 VOSH missions trips, including Bolivia, Cameroon in West Africa, Grenada, Guatemala, San Juan, New Orleans, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.) As a lay volunteer, he has seen more than 25,000 patients in these clinics. From 2012-2019, he served on the VOSH/International Board of Directors chairing its communications team, and has produced videos for VOSH now in broad distribution.

Check out our full post! http://vosh-illinois.org/snapshot-interviews-with-dedicated-voshers-3/

09/30/2021

Check out the post by VOSH/International on how to apply for fellowship of VOSH/International (FVI)!

The Fellowship Program was authored by Dr. Stuart Frank and a committee for the purpose of acknowledging the skills and experience necessary for a member of VOSH to advise on the global challenge of preventable blindness; to foster the development of future leaders to meet the challenge of VISION 20...

09/05/2021

We need ODs to help out with a Vision Screening on September 25th. See below for more information!