Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh

Since their creation in 1957 the St. Lucy’s Auxiliary for the Blind has been supporting our organization. First as volunteers for the Guild for the Blind then as donors. These amazing ladies have logged countless hours of volunteer service for BVRS (and many other great organizations) and to date they have donated more than $4.6 Million to BVRS. We are extremely grateful for their continued dedication and support for our clients and our mission. ID: Image of an old paper showing images of the Medallion Ball with 3 images of young women in white dresses with their escorts in black tuxes, 1 image of a young woman in a white dress in front of the bishop and a graphic of the Saint Joan of Arc Medallion with text "The Night of the Ball"

In honor of World Optometry Day we would like to thank Dr. Erica Hacker for her dedication to taking care of our clients. ID: 3 images 1) pink background image of glasses with globes in the lenses "Happy World Optometry Day", 2) 2 women sitting at an eye exam machine, 3) 2 women, 1 is standing the other is sitting in an exam chair, in an eye exam room with an orange wall in the background

Meet Erica A. Hacker, O.D. Optometrist At BVRS I provide eye exams at the office on Locust Street. It is a clean modern clinic with plenty of space to work. I see patients of all ages and most of them are visually impaired.... What is a fun activity you do when you are not at work? Zoom Belle Voci (women’s choir), zoom book clubs, zoom Steel City Ukuleles, and binge watch shows. I recommend Poldark and Schitt’s Creek. ID: Meet the Staff template with a smiling woman with short red hair sitting on a large rock by a river, there are trees and bushes in the background

Did you know? ID: Infographic with statistics about vision, healthy eyes = high performance, Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness worldwide 50% go undiagnosed, 80% of serious visual loss is treatable if diagnosed early, 51% of the population has at least one eye problem, this increases to 87% after age 45

BVRS is a Member of VisionServe Alliance and we'd like to tell you about their upcoming leadership conference. Get excited for the #VSAELC2021. This three day event will inspire, inform, and connect you with leader from around the #blindess and #lowvision field to make a bigger impact in 2021. Register now: vsaelc.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_t_I57pBKs

Did you know that we offer free transportation to area seniors? So far this year our dedicated staff have helped nearly 100 individuals. Our Transportation program provides eligible individuals with vision loss transportation from their home to appointments, as well as, support services that help them with shopping, reading mail, and light household activities. To learn more about this program call 412-368-4400. ID: Image of a woman with dark hair wearing sunglasses standing beside a white car with the BVRS logo and an image of a driver from the backseat of a car showing a plexiglass barrier behind the front seats.

Meet Tony White Employment Specialist My job is to assist individuals in obtaining and retaining employment in Allegheny County.... What is your favorite part of your job: I enjoy encouraging individuals, helping them become more confident and independent. What have you been doing during the pandemic: Was able to exercise more and start a few books that were collecting dust. What is a fun activity you do when you are not at work: I exercise, read, and practice bushcraft skills. ID: Meet our Staff template with a man in a tan shirt and dark hair in front of a grey wall

On #PresidentsDay, we remember President Franklin Roosevelt, who signed the law that makes our work possible. AbilityOne

AMD is a leading cause of vision loss among older Americans. Learn more about the eye disease: https://www.aao.org/eye-h/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration #AMDAwarenessMonth ID: Infographic with text "Get the Facts on Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)"

https://www.aao.org//face-mask-foggy-glasses-coronavirus-c

In one short week, we raised $5,075 in support of the $10,000 Corporate Cup Challenge. We couldn't be more grateful for you and your commitment to this fundraising initiative. Canceling the Corporate Cup was a necessary decision, yet in spite of these challenging times your generosity is impacting our clients' lives in the most profound and positive ways. You are inspiring those we serve to continue to pursue their life's work The pandemic is hard on all of us. Yet for indivi...duals who are blind or vision impaired these times can be even worse. The CDC guidelines and the impact of social distancing can be extremely isolating and segregating for those with sight loss. This is why we must maintain all that we offer to ensure our clients don't feel alone. Your support makes this possible and for this we will be eternally grateful. The Corporate Cup Challenge will continue through March 1, 2021. We hope you will consider joining us and give a financial gift that is reflective of your belief in our mission and our vital work. Making a donation is simple and easy. Click on this link and be part of the life-changing work that Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services provides. https://www.bvrspittsburgh.org//f/corporate-cup-challenge/ To learn more about the $10,000 Corporate Cup Challenge, please visit, www.bvrspittsburgh.org. If you have any questions contact Cindy Smith at [email protected]. Your financial support helps our clients achieve their independence and financial security. ID: Image of 2 men in blue jackets, 1 has his arms in the air ringing cowbells, standing in snow with trees and a building behind them

We're working to ensure that everyone has the cleaners & PPE they need to keep safe and healthy. These products are Made or Assembled in the USA. We offer masks, gloves, face shields, cleaners and other items at a reasonable & fair price. Please call 412-368-4072 or email [email protected]. #doingallwecantokeeppeoplesafe Please share this post ID: Images of a face shield, goggles on blue disposable gloves and 2 types of N95 face masks

We are working to ensure that everyone has the PPE they need to keep safe and healthy. These PPE products are Made or Assembled in the USA. We offer various items at a reasonable and fair price. If you need PPE please call 412-368-4072 or email [email protected]. Please share this post #doingallwecantokeeppeoplesafe ID: Image of blue disposable gloves, paper face masks and bottles of sanitizer

Happy World Kindness Day! ID: Image with 5 colorful hearts over a blue circle, text World Kindness Movement is around the hearts. The purpose of World Kindness Day is to highlight good deeds in the community because kindness is the common thread that unites us all. November 13

Happenings at BVRS Heartfelt Note of Thanks This note was was sent to our vision screeners from the parents of a 1yr old who was screened in September. The parents said "Thank you for this wonderful service that you provide - we are very appreciative. We were able to get an appointment at Children's and it was a great experience. Thank You again! They let us know that their daughter was more far-sighted in one of her eyes and the doctor would be watching to see if she will r...equire glasses in the spring. They would never have known she had a problem at such a young age without our free program to screen at her daycare! This young child was 1 of 500 children that were screened through our program in September. This note highlights the importance of our screenings, if you would like more information or know of a daycare or preschool that could benefit from our program contact Wathina at 412.368.4400 x2213 or [email protected] ID: Image of a woman in a green shirt standing on the left holding a device and a woman in blue and small child sitting on the right See more

Today and every day: Thank you Veterans for your service to our country. We are especially proud of the Veterans of our BVRS family -- Wathina Lewkowicz and Anthony Durnell -- We salute you.

Meet Kristen Durnell Low Vision Office Manager At BVRS you can often find me on the phone scheduling and helping patients get ready for their low vision appointments, then on the computer updating the electronic medical records and working with billing and referrals. Getting the patients checked in and out and keeping communication with them after they leave our doors keeps me busy.... What is your favorite part of your job: I love getting to know the clients that come through our door. Some of them have such an amazing story of the progress that they have made through the Low Vision department. What have you been doing during the pandemic: During the shutdown, I was able to do some work from home. I also loved spending time with my three kids, dog and husband. What is a fun activity you do when you are not at work: I love the water! Swimming, fishing, kayaking and my new favorite...white water rafting. ID: Meet our Staff template with a smiling woman standing holding a just caught fish with trees and a lake in the background.