HOMELESS CONNECT TORONTO 2024:

Hey, It’s Taylor, a lead optician at Kodak Lens Vision Centres. I just want to share with you all my experience during the weekend (October 27, 2024). I volunteered for another great event at Homeless Connect HCT11 where I and the optometric team from Vision Institute of Canada helped 149 people this year. This year, guests came out to the Mattamy Athletic Centre to receive a variety of services including eye care, foot care, hair cutting, clothing, food, health, housing and employment support, legal and much more. Together, alongside 322 service providers representing 67 organizations and 339 day-of volunteers, we proudly served over 1240 guests with essential services – setting a remarkable new record! The effort of the Vision Institute of Canada has made our 1-day vision clinic possible to help those in need and less fortunate. The vision clinic provided services such as vision screening, pretesting, patient history evaluation, refraction for a new prescription, ocular health, and optical services.

Optical Station at Homeless Connect HCT11 (October 2024)

I helped dispense 52 reading glasses to those who needed it the most. From the 149 patients seen, 71 required refrative care and 32 received vouchers for eyeglasses or to complete a comprehensive eye health exam outside of the event. Our optometric team was able to help 18 receive an ocular health check through dilation. 18 patients needed to be referred for a full comprehensive eye health exam or further care based on the findings from our Optometrists and team.

This is the 11th Homeless Connect and my sixth year participating. I hope to do more eye care volunteer work in the future. Kodak Lens Vision Centres has a commitment to social impact and helping our local community. Being part of the Kodak Lens Vision Centres has inspired me to pursue providing excellence in vision care and remarkable experiences to help people See The Colours of Life! Check out clips of our mobile vision clinic below from CityNews and CBC.

With 339 volunteers and 322 service providers, Homeless Connect Toronto HCT11 were able to connect over 1240 guests to the essential services and help they need.

Homeless Connect Toronto is a non-profit organization that coordinates a centralized “one-stop-shop” for those at-risk-of or experiencing homelessness in Toronto. We are a 100% volunteer-run charitable organization. Visit our website to find out more: https://www.hctoronto.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hconnectto

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HConnectTO