Since Dec. 25 is a national holiday when most people do not have to work, Jewish people often look for ways to spend the day. Optometrist Jeffry D. Gerson decided to spend it helping Jewish people in need by providing comprehensive eye exams, and in some cases, eyeglasses as well.
Dr. Gerson has been an optometrist for 17 years and about six months ago joined the Grin Eye Care practice. In November the practice, which has been anchored in Olathe, added a second location in the Fox Hill Medical Building in Leawood.
He’s provided free eye care for those in need several times during his career. The first time he did this mitzvah was close to 15 years ago and he did it on Dec. 25 then, too.
“Everything is closed on Christmas Day, but being Jewish it’s not a holiday that we observe. I don’t necessarily need the day off so I decided if I can do something good and use what I’m able to do professionally to help people, it would be a meaningful way to spend the day,” he said.
Dr. Gerson was able to perform this free service because of the support he received from his practice and colleagues.
“Dr. (Milton) Grin donated his time and performed surgeries on many medical missions. So it’s in the fabric of the practice to do things like this. In the past the practice has held free clinic days for people who can’t afford eye care or don’t have insurance to get their eyes checked. The practice historically has been very involved in making sure that the people who need care, get care,” Dr. Gerson said.
With the help of Elisa Pener, the nurse at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, Dr. Gerson performed eye exams at the Leawood office where he spends most of his time.
“The exams we did that day were no different than the exams we do on a regular work day,” he said. “The only difference was it was on Christmas day.”
In fact, Dr. Gerson said, this year’s event was “Nurse Pener’s” idea. She had assisted him with this project before and through her work at HBHA thought it was time to do it again. So she reached out to Dr. Gerson to see if he was interested in donating his time this year. He stepped right up to the plate and started making arrangements.
Dr. Gerson explained that 11 people took advantage of the opportunity to receive a comprehensive eye exam. Those who needed glasses were able to choose what they liked and got fitted properly. Their glasses will be ready soon.
“We donated all the materials and are not charging anybody anything,” he said.
In the past he organized the event with assistance from Jewish Family Services.
“It was HBHA helping this time but it was still the same principal, the same idea,” he said.
HBHA families received information about the event. Clients of the JFS Food Pantry were also given the opportunity to sign up for the free eye exams, said Dr. Gerson, who explained that the biggest difference between an optometrist, which he is, and an ophthalmologist, is the ability to perform surgery or laser procedures.
“It’s different schooling but a lot of what we do on a day-to-day basis is fairly similar. If someone needs surgery or some sort of laser procedure, I need to refer them to an ophthalmologist.
Dr. Gerson’s oldest son is a student at HBHA and his youngest son will be a kindergartener there next year, which is one reason why the HBHA community benefitted from his generosity this year.
“It’s kind of neat for me to be able in one way or another to help kids at the school,” he said. “It’s a unique opportunity to service needs of the kids at the school.
“The school is a diverse community and a lot of times people assume that if kids go to a private school then their families aren’t in any kind of economic need and there are no such needs within the Jewish community either.”
Another reason serving this particular community is important, Dr. Gerson said, is that if kids don’t see well, it’s pretty hard to learn.
“This is to make sure that there aren’t kids who don’t see well because of financial need,” he said.
The Gerson children were not present at the free exams as Dr. Gerson believes it is important to maintain patient confidentially. But the children knew the reason why they weren’t spending the day with their father.
“We feel it’s important for our kids to know and understand tzedakah and to know that there’s more things you can do other than just giving money.”
People have asked Dr. Gerson why he spent the day working instead of spending the time relaxing with the family or doing another enjoyable activity. In his answer, he also pointed out that he’s not the only professional to ever do such a thing.
“I think it’s a good thing to be able to give back to the community. I don’t want to say in the ‘Christmas spirit,’ but at this time of year people are doing things for other people. It’s easy to just give money but when you have a professional skill that you are able to provide that people might not otherwise be able to get, it is sometimes a more unique and a more impactful way to give,” he explained.
