Life Hope Center started its mobile health clinic in 2016, but the pandemic forced the organization to put the brakes on the program.
That meant some people had waited years to get a new prescription or a pair of glasses — until this weekend.
On Sunday, about 50 people received free vision care assistance at the Templeton Hills Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
"This one is specifically focused on vision care, but we have a dental clinic coming up as well," said Pastor Zac Page, Templeton Hills Church.
Life Hope Center hosts a mobile clinic twice a year, with funding from the Templeton Hills Church.
"Life Hope Center is something that is available to a lot of different churches and travels around to a lot of different churches with the equipment and each local church helps staff each clinic,” explained Leah Page, clinic coordinator.
Without the program, people like Sherry Eastman, a Paso Robles resident, either go without care or have to pay at least a couple of hundred dollars for a checkup and corrective lenses.
“I don’t have a local eye doctor and my insurance doesn’t cover that so I come here because I know I can get it and it’s going to help me in the long run,” Eastman said.
Eastman is a single grandmother raising a 16-year-old and says this is an invaluable resource.
"This helps me a lot because, financially, I can’t afford to pay what it would cost me to get a new pair of glasses and I knew I needed a new pair," Eastman said.
She says what she loves most is the safe space it provides her.
“It makes it a nice atmosphere to be able to come to this place knowing that I’m not judged for finances and everyone is so welcoming here," Eastman said.
Eastman says this is her third clinic.
“I will be back, and I will spread the word because I know a lot of people who are needing dental work,” Eastman said.
The dental clinic will be on Oct. 8, you can register for it by calling Templeton Hills Church at (805) 434-1710.
