March 19, 2024

Newton High Senior collects sunglasses for El Salvador

For the past 20 years, a mission trip from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton to El Salvador has helped local people with medical and dental care.

This year, to help combat the rough conditions on the local people’s eyes, Newton High School Senior Shelby Cochran decided to collect sunglasses to bring on the trip.

“Veronica from our church was wondering if we could do something to raise funds for the mission trip and asked if I could do something at the school,” Cochran said.

“I asked the student council if we could do a bake sale and she said yes.”

The bake sales at the church and the school raised more than $400, which will go to buy sunglasses for those in El Salvador. She also made collection boxes to collect sunglasses at the school, church and Newton Daily News office.

“Because they are so close to the equator they get really bad cataracts so the sunglasses help to prevent that. They also work outside and get a lot of dust in their eyes, so it is eye protection as well,” Cochran said.

The group of 39 people heads to El Salvador over spring break and will bring the sunglasses along. Mission trip organizer Veronica Mangrich said that doctors, dentists and other medical professionals go on the trip to provide medical care to more than 500 people a day. While providing care, they also hope to educate the people on proper eye care.

Mangrich was very impressed with how Cochran embraced the project and took it upon herself to organize the drive and to help make a difference in the world. Cochran is not able to go on the trip, but her work will go along and make a difference to those who are so far away.

Mangrich said that in total, last year the group saw approximately 2,000 patients and anticipates it to grow this year.

“It is a wonderful trip but can only be done with the support from home,” Mangrich said.

If you would like to donate sunglasses to the mission trip or for more information contact Sacred Heart at 641-792-2050 or 1115 S. Eighth Ave. E.