On February 8, 2025, the SEE Vision Care (SVC) held a booth at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara for the third Annual 211 Community Day Celebration, a free event designed to connect individuals and families with essential local resources. With over 60 organizations in attendance, a live radio broadcast, music, kids’ activities, door prizes, and more, the event fostered meaningful connections between service providers and community members.
Connecting with our community
During the event, the SVC team provided free vision screenings to 18 kids and 67 adults. Anisha, SVC’s Director of Local & Domestic Programs, shared her enthusiasm about getting involved with the community: “I’m honored to offer free vision screenings and share valuable information about our clinic’s comprehensive eye exams and services. This event showcases the power of local organizations coming together, providing a variety of resources that strengthen the well-being of our community,” she said.
Meet Laura and Lia
Among the community members who received free screenings were Laura and her daughter Lia. Laura expressed the importance of getting her eyes checked, stating that “you don’t want to get to an older age and fear being able to see. It’s good to be preventative.”
Her daughter Lia also shared her perspective, commenting that her sight is essential to her hobbies and connecting with her loved ones: “Not being able to see would not allow me to ride horses, and being able to see allows me to be with my family,” she said.
A surprise visit
SVC’s booth was also visited by Anthony & Adan Aguilera, who are pictured in our most recent SVC flyer! This was Anthony and Adan’s second year attending the celebration, and they were so excited to see their photo from the previous year used in our materials.
Looking ahead
Alejandra Enciso, the 2-1-1 Program Manager from Communify who helped organize the celebration, is excited to continue hosting this event across the greater Santa Barbara area in the coming years: “This is our third annual 211 Day and we’re so excited to have it here in Santa Barbara…Next year we will be hosting it in Lompoc and we welcome all Lompoc and its surrounding areas to come and join us,” said Alejandra.
Events like this are such a great opportunity to get involved with our community and other like-minded organizations dedicated to serving those in need. We look forward to attending again next year!
