North Minneapolis Rotary Club is reaching out to ask your help in promoting an upcoming fundraiser and great social activity that our club will be hosting on Saturday, August 20, 1-4 pm. It is the Northside Ramble, a community event to explore North Minneapolis by bike, foot or car. The ride will start at La Dona Cerveceria (brewery), and will include a tour of some of the sites of historical significance in North Minneapolis. (I was amazed how little I knew!)
We will stop at the Rotary sponsored "peace garden" as well as at Pryes Brewing Company along the way. This easy ride covers about 4-5 miles and is led by a local tour guide and several North Minneapolis Rotary members.
The event is a fundraiser for Gotcha Glasses, a project providing free eye screenings and eyeglasses for kids in North Minneapolis.
All are welcome and we truly appreciate the support of our fellow Rotarians! Tickets may be purchased ($30) at www.northsideramble.com. The event includes a free t-shirt for registered participants, a beer at each of the two breweries and some tasty local area snacks at the Peace Garden.
NORTHSIDE RAMBLE
A community event to explore North Minneapolis by bike, foot, or car!
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of North Minneapolis
Stops Include:
La Doña Cervecería
Pryes Brewing Co
Peace Garden
History Tour along the way
Pryes Brewing Co
Peace Garden
History Tour along the way
For more information and to purchase tickets visit:www.northsideramble.com or scan here:
Saturday AUGUST 20th at 1:00pm
| An initiative to provide prescription eyeglasses to Northside kids with vision impairment |
Vision and Academic Performance The American Academy of Ophthalmology estimates that 80% of learning during a child's first 12 years is through their eyes. The knowledge gained in the earliest years of school sets the foundation upon which future education is built. Visual functioning is a strong predictor of academic performance in school-aged children. From reading and writing to using computers and whiteboards, a child’s eye is constantly being utilized in school. Vision serves an essential role in a child's physical, cognitive, and social development, early detection and treatment of vision problems are crucial to a child’s health and wellbeing throughout their adult years Vision and Health Equity Low-income and minority students are disproportionately affected by untreated visual impairments. In underserved communities, 95% of students who need glasses do not have them. Unmet vision needs and undiagnosed vision disorders in school children, due to the lack of vision care, can cause lifelong health issues including misdiagnosed learning disabilities and permanent vision loss. Despite common refractive errors being corrected with glasses at a relatively low cost, many students have inadequate access to care, follow-up services, and funds for the eyeglasses they need. Some health insurance providers cover standard eye exams and vision care only when the condition is considered a medical problem. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other eye-care needs are often paid out of pocket, deepening the health disparities for children and families who cannot afford them. |
Vision Screening at NorthPoint At NorthPoint, health vision screenings are offered as part of our In-School Health Screening Program. The screenings are not diagnostic; students identified with a vision deficit are sent home with a letter informing the parents that their child needs follow-up care. Between September and November 2021, NorthPoint conducted health screenings in two North Minneapolis schools (Grades K-8). Of the 806 students screened, 44% had some form of visual impairment. Of 359 students who did not pass their vision screening: 20% had moderate visual impairment (20/70-2/200) 3% had severe visual impairment (<20/200) Of the students screened, only 3% wore glasses; for some of them, the glasses they wore were not strong enough to correct their impairments. During the screenings, students verbalized knowledge of their own vision impairments, their families’ lack of funds for eyeglasses, and the social stigmas they experienced as a result. Removing Barriers: Intervention 1 2CostandStigma- Utilizing the existing transportation system for dental care follow-up to also bring students to NorthPoint who need diagnostic eye exams. Subsidizing exams for students who are uninsured or otherwise require a subsidy andprovidingstudentstheopportunitytochooseandorderglassesthrougha selected online vendor right after their exam, and have them delivered to their school, free of charge to them. Transportation - |