Santa Rosa Sunrise Eyeglass Mission to El Salvador
Our special guest speakers for Thursday, June 11, 2026, were members of the Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary Club’s Eyeglass Mission to El Salvador. The mission, organized in partnership with People Helping People (PHP) and the Santa Tecla Rotary Club, focused on providing free vision screenings and eyeglasses to underserved communities in the Zaragoza area. The team of approximately 11 volunteers saw a record 1,800 patients over four and a half days, distributing eyeglasses, toys, and other support to community members who otherwise lacked access to basic vision care. The speakers were led by our International Chairman, John Jones, and included Steve Herron, Paul O’Rear, Penny Millar, Rebecca (Rich’s daughter), Mark Banks, and Scott Holder (who also read a statement from his sister, Cheryl.) We also heard from Lisselot, Steven, and Alex from PHP. The other team members included Kristine Burns, local optometrist, Yvette, and our long-term partners and friends from Nicaragua, Ninoska, and Rafael.
The mission took place in Zaragoza, El Salvador, over four and a half days, with the team working out of a local church. Between 100 and 200 patients arrived each morning, waiting patiently in the heat before being processed through a structured multi-station system. Patients first completed intake, then proceeded to the auto-refractor station operated by Steve and Mark, followed by prescription determination led by John, and finally eyeglass fitting conducted by Paul, Penny, Cheryl, and Rebecca. Local optometrist Yvette handled the more complex cases.
An unexpected finding was that approximately 40% of patients required minus (nearsighted) prescriptions, far exceeding what the team had experienced in Nicaragua. This led to critical shortages of minus lenses, requiring emergency procurement runs. The local optometrist ultimately sourced additional glasses from her lab at $4 per pair on a rush order. Custom eyeglasses were fabricated on-site by Scott Holder to supplement inventory and meet unique prescription needs. The team was supported by local translators Steven and Raul, as well as Ninoska, who assisted with distance testing. The Santa Tecla Rotary Club provided 150 backpacks for children, and a toy station and face-painting area were set up to engage younger visitors. Many patients experienced life-changing improvements in vision directly impacting their ability to participate in school and daily life. The team also established and strengthened relationships with PHP and the Santa Tecla Rotary Club for future collaboration. An estimated 10–15% of patients encountered during the mission were unable to read, highlighting broader literacy challenges in the region.
The mission was conducted in air-conditioned facilities in a church in Zaragoza, with strong logistical support from local partners. The team stayed in San Salvador, where the accommodations were comfortable and modern. However, approximately 30 minutes outside the city, the villages closely resembled those seen in Nicaragua; modest structures, wood-burning cooking, heat, and humidity. Steve Herron noted that the country presented a stark contrast between wealthy and impoverished populations, and that the security situation was notably calm, contrary to some prior perceptions.
What an amazing service our Sunrise team members and partners performed in Zaragosa, El Salvador! Because of our team, 1,800 people received vision care services that they would not have received without you! Hundreds of people have much better vision than before the mission, and these folks’ lives have been immeasurably improved.
