Messiah works with MOST Ministries to collect eye glasses for mission teams that go out all over the world.

Within the Messiah Eyeglass Ministry there are several different ways to volunteer.

1. Donations:
   Messiah accepts donated:
   • Adult and children's eyeglasses without bifocals
   • Sunglasses without prescription
   • Over the counter reading glasses
2. Sorting:
   When we receive large boxes of donated eyeglasses, volunteers are needed to sort them according to the guidelines.
3. Washing:
   Volunteers are needed to wash eyeglasses after they have been sorted.
4. Reading the Prescription:
   Once trained, you can read the lens prescription on our lensometer, label, and bag the glasses.
5. Boxing:
   The final step is boxing labeled eyeglasses according to the prescription so that they can be mailed to MOST Ministries

You can volunteer for any of the steps listed above. Training will be provided.

Click To Volunteer or request more information about this ministry.

Eyeglasses are the number one stated need in third world countries today. Eyeglasses help farmers work in their fields, wives and mothers to cook and sew, children to attend school. MOST MInistries responds to pleas from missionaries and national church leaders to assist them in meeting this need by sending out more eyeglass teams per year than any other project or service available. The missionaries and/or local church leaders being served take advantage of these opportunties to introduce themselves and their church to community members and leadership.

A MOST Eyeglass Team usually consists of 12-16 people from a variety of ages and backgrounds. No prior knowledge of eye care or eyeglasses is needed. Team members are trained in a very simple method of testing individuals for their eyeglass prescription for both distance and reading strengths. At this time MOST is unable to provide bi-focals, therefore each person coming through a clinic receives 2 pairs of glasses, one for distance and one for reading, if needed. A team of 18 can see approximately 250 people per day dispensing from 300-400 pairs of glasses.

Since the prescriptions that are needed are an unknown factor, each team must take with them approximately triple the glasses that are expected to be handed out in order ot have a selection of the proper prescriptions. A team expecting to see 1,200 individuals must take with them at least 3,600pairs in a variet of each prescription. With 12 Eyeglass Teams scheduled within a one year timeframe, at least 45,000 usuable glasses are needed to take into fields so that teams can distribute approximately 15,000 pairs of glasses a year. Whenever we receive a box of donated glasses it is a rule of thumb that only about one third of the glasses will meet the stringent specifications needed. So adding that into the formula, MOST needs to process over 135,000 pairs of glasses each year! No wonder a new Eyeglass Collection Center is needed to enable MOST to continue and grow our commitement to people around the world.