The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received June 22, 2022.
To the Editor:
My husband Ray and I left Haddam on May 27, 2022 for the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota with a full van (also known as The White Buffalo) with optical supplies, optical equipment and huge black plastic bags of all sorts of donated, handcrafted knitted items. It took us three days but the ride was amazing! What a beautiful country we have! On May 31st, 28 volunteers: opticians, optometrists, ophthalmologists, photographers and others from all over the U.S. came together to set up the eye clinic. Our goal was to see 500 patients from June 1st to the 5th. At the end of the clinic, the total number of patients who got eyecare and eyeglasses ordered was 638!
Many thanks go out to all the knitters and crocheters who organized groups to help with this project (Knitters Unite 2022). So many neighbors from Higganum, Haddam, Killingworth, Chester, East Haddam, Colchester, Cromwell, Westbrook and Wethersfield provided examples of their work.
We packed 104 blankets, 372 hats, 4 headbands, 286 scarves including sets, 9 sweaters/vests, 4 baby sweaters, 5 booties and socks, 44 mittens /gloves and miscellaneous clothing as well! Everyone was thrilled and amazed by the generosity and craftsmanship. Whatever was left was saved and will be distributed during the winter months. The children’s items will be wrapped and distributed at their annual Children’s Christmas party.
Thank you all so much for bringing smiles to so many of our fellow Americans and helping them keep warm this winter. We will be going back next year for June 2023.
The “Artists for World Peace, Native Eyes 2022” event can be viewed on Instagram, Facebook and in July sometime, You tube.
With much appreciation,
Roe Dennis
