Atlanta Book Drive

To read well, a child first needs to see well, as 80 percent of what we learn is through our eyes. However, an astonishing one in four children has an undetected vision problem—many of which are due to lack of vision care. My boys have both had several eye exams at various stages in his life through their pediatrician (love her), so it really surprised me to hear that it has been reported that more than 76% of American children under the age of five have never received a comprehensive eye exam!

To shed light on the critical role healthy vision plays in helping to develop a child’s passion for reading and learning, VSP Vision Care, Transitions Optical and Bess the Book Bus have launched the national “Eyecare About Reading” Book Drive competition. The Book Drive will provide free books, eye exams and glasses (when needed), totaling more than two million dollars, to Atlanta's children in need.

Three well-known bloggers from across the country, including Atlanta's own Meghan Cooper, will compete to collect the most books before August 22. The Atlanta books will be donated to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta as well as to Bess the Book Bus, a mobile literacy outreach program that travels across the country providing free books to underprivileged children in schools, shelters and community organizations.

“Reading opens worlds of opportunities for children throughout their academic and personal lives. I am thrilled to be a part of this campaign, which will help to spread the love of reading to kids, many of whom have never had a book of their own or access to proper eye care, potentially hindering their reading skills.” ~Jennifer Frances, founder of Bess the Book Bus.

How the Book Drive works:

For every three books donated in the competition (either through the bloggers or online), VSP will donate one free eye exam (and, if needed, glasses fitted with Transitions lenses) to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for children without access to these services. VSP will provide up to 5,500 free eye exams in total for the campaign, a value of more than $2,000,000.

If Atlanta collects the most books Children's Healthcare of Atlanta will receive an additional 100 free eye exams (and glasses with Transitions lenses), as well as a special visit from Bess the Book Bus and the VSP/Transitions Optical Mobile Eyes clinic nicknamed Eyenstein.

“Increasing access to quality eyecare is a priority for VSP,” said Connie Vavricek, director of industry outreach at VSP Vision Care. “To partner with organizations such as Transitions Optical and Bess the Book Bus, who share our passion to give back, increases the collective reach to make a positive impact on the life of a child.”

Ready to participate? Heres how: 

The book drive will be from July 17-August 22.

Metro Atlanta residents will be able to donate their new (for the safety of patients) books at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Urgent Care Centers listed below. Hours of operation for the centers are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9a.m. to 9p.m. on weekends.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Urgent Care Centers

Children's at Mount Zion (through Friday 27th and Hudson Bridge location opens August 1)

Attn: Lisa Gaither

2201 Mount Zion Pkwy

Morrow, GA 30260-3312

404-785-8660

Children's at North Point

Attn: Rose Weber

3795 Mansell Road

Alpharetta, GA 30022-8247

404-785-8540

  

Children's at Satellite Boulevard

Attn: Katina Artis

2660 Satellite Boulevard

Duluth, GA 30096-5803

404-785-8330

Children's at Town Center

Attn: Dana Hunter Tatum

2985 George Busbee Parkway

Kennesaw, GA 30144-6812

404-785-8010

Children's at Forsyth

Attn: Roshonda Gideon

410 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 300

Cumming, GA 30041-7407

404-785-3100

If you live outside of these areas, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.Facebook.com/VSPVisionCare" www.Facebook.com/VSPVisionCare, select the Book Drive Tab and make a “promise” to protect your eyes. For every promise received, Transitions Optical will donate one free book to Bess the Book Bus.

To donate a book, visit the Book Drive Tab at www.Facebook.com/VSPVisionCare.