SEATTLE, Wash. — Dr. John Jarstad of the Lakota Creek Ward, Federal Way Washington Stake, was honored recently along with the Federal Way Kiwanis and Metro Transit of Seattle for a program that collects and distributes unclaimed eyeglasses left on metro buses for donation to care-workers in developing countries. The Metropolitan King County Council recognized the efforts and legacy of this program at their Dec. 11 council meeting.
Since 1993, Dr. Jarstad, an ophthalmologist, has visited developing countries around the world, distributing thousands of eyeglasses, teaching local doctors advanced procedures, and performing complicated surgeries. He estimates that the metro program has now collected, refurbished and shipped more than 120,000 pairs of eyeglasses since the program's inception in 2001. Other Church members helping with the project are Rick Boudreau of the Key Center Ward, Tacoma Washington Stake, a certified ophthalmic executive, and Marie McWilliams of the Lakota Creek Ward, a certified ophthalmic technician.