“Eyeglasses are a hidden need here in the United States,” says Jean Gajano, executive director of New Eyes. The need stems from the high cost of glasses for low-income Americans, paired with limited coverage of glasses by insurance. That’s where New Eyes comes in.

The story began in 1932, when Short Hills resident Julia Lawrence Terry noticed that many people struggled to read applications while she volunteered for the Red Cross in New York City. Collecting used glasses from her Millburn and Short Hills neighbors was just the beginning of her plans to help others. When Julia noticed the donated glasses were made from gold, she took them to a smelter in Newark. Using the profits to buy new glasses for those in need, Julia sought any type of gold or silver scraps to melt.

As donations of glasses poured in, Benedict House at Christ Church in Short Hills offered to house the program. Radio, newspapers, and magazines helped spread the word, and by 1963, New Eyes opened at 549 Millburn Avenue before moving to 830 Morris Turnpike in 2022. “Today, New Eyes is helping more people in need than ever before, utilizing technology to deliver its services in a fast and efficient manner,” says Gajano.

Digital by Design

New Eyes found success in its online program, making the switch from a postal-mail program to fully digital in 2017. That change reduced the turnaround time of six to eight weeks to an average of five days. 

“Clients come to us directly or through social services and apply online at new-eyes.org,” says Gajano. “They must live in the United States, have income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, and have a valid eyeglasses prescription.” 

New Eyes staff reviews each application, and if approved, the client or social worker receives an email within 24 hours. The email includes the client’s proprietary e-voucher number and a link to the organization’s eyeglasses ordering site. “There, they can virtually try on frames, upload their prescription, and order their glasses,” says Gajano. “Clients now receive their glasses in three to seven days.”

With such a detailed system, many may be surprised the organization consists of a small staff of five. An executive director, two full-time positions of operating officer and executive assistant, and two part-time associates. “Over the past five years, we have assisted over 100,000 people in financial need across the country in all 50 states,” says Gajano. “Our biggest geographic demand comes from New Jersey, followed by Colorado, California, and Virginia.”

An Advocate for the Mission

Jim Pellicane, a longtime community-minded resident of Short Hills, is a passionate advocate of New Eyes. Last year, he accepted another term as a New Eyes board trustee after his first board tenure from 2006 to 2014. “New Eyes has a timeless mission,” says Pellicane. “It is purely the best feel-good story: One woman seeing a problem, solving it, and impacting lives through providing eyeglasses,” he says. “Though New Eyes has left its former home on Millburn Avenue, we are proud of our roots and committed to the community where we were founded.”

The month of August was Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. New Eyes participated with its back-to-school “Kids Glasses” fundraising campaign with a $15,000 matching gift. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 80% of childhood learning happens visually,” says Gajano.

In addition to helping those in need, New Eyes’ Azimuth Eyewear brand offers bespoke New York designer sunglasses and prescription glasses to the public, designed specifically for New Eyes. “All proceeds go to purchase new eyeglasses for children and adults in need in the United States,” says Gajano.

Being a part of the community is very important to the organization. “The heart and soul of New Eyes will always be in this community,” says Gajano. “Our mission was born and raised here and continues its work in this caring and supportive community. Over the decades, each of the thousands of volunteer residents have contributed to our mission—and enabled New Eyes to arrive here in the 21st century as a technology-leveraging, digital organization that never loses sight of the humanity of our work. Our inspiration will always be Short Hills resident Julia Lawrence Terry, and our home will always be Short Hills, New Jersey.”

If you would like to donate to New Eyes, tax-deductible donations are accepted securely at new-eyes.org.

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More Than Clear Vision

The happiness the organization brings to those in need is evident in the feedback it receives. “It’s all the ancillary benefits that clear vision brings—joy, hope, opportunity—that make our work rewarding,” says Jean Gajano, executive director of New Eyes. The organization asks its clients to share the impact of their new glasses. The notes, which can be viewed on the website, reflect clients’ gratitude.

“I am doing really better in school! Thanks for the chance.”

—Muriel, age 12, New Jersey

“Having the new glasses has helped me with my new job working in the maintenance department. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Because of your organization, I have a new job, a new life. Thank you!”

—Matthew, age 43, Pennsylvania

“Thank you very much. You have made vision available to me and allowed me to go out and enjoy life again. The optometrist wanted over $700, and I could not do that.”

—Karl, age 72, New York

Antonietta Henry is a wife, mother of four and owner of Antonietta Henry Photography in Pompton Plains. She enjoys exploring and learning more about towns throughout her home state of New Jersey.

Photograph courtesy of New Eyes