“It’s a nice convenience for people who are looking for great value, eye exams and the glasses themselves,” said Kim Bramlage, marketing communication specialist for Goodwill Easter Seals.
Bramlage said creating jobs for people with disabilities is their end goal.
“Our mission is to empower people with disabilities,” she said. “We want to enhance their lives and help them gain independence.”
Bramlage said, as of now, the center doesn’t have a set goal for the number of jobs they want to create but they’re aiming for as many as possible.
The center is working on expanding with the hope of developing more technical jobs in the future, such as assembling eyeglasses in a lab.
The center had a grand opening on May 17, following a soft opening two weeks prior. Since then, Bramlage said they have stayed on target with sales and customers.
“We’re keeping our doctor of optometry busy,” Bramlage said. The center is booked with appointments all day.
Despite some misconceptions, Bramlage said the eyeglasses sold at the center are brand new and they don’t accept donations. While the center is an option for people with assisted income, its main purpose is to service those who simply don’t want to spend a lot of money on eye care.
The proceeds will support more than 40 programs that strive to assist people with disabilities including adult day services, child care, and support programs for people with developmental disorders such as autism.
The center is located inside the Beavercreek Goodwill Store at 2309 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2295 or hbealer@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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