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It's a cause that has led to his fluency in Spanish, frequent international travel and even his decision to adopt a child.
And after 22 years of taking annual trips to South and Central America to provide free eye care to the needy, Dr. Gary Pedersen shows no signs of stopping his volunteer adventures.
"It's kind of one of those things where once you do it, you get addicted to it," Pedersen said.
Pedersen, a Grand Island optometrist and owner of Grand Island Optical, has made about 20 trips during the last 22 years as part of the Nebraska Chapter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH).
His most recent excursion was in November and December, when he, along with five other optometrists, three opticians and seven volunteers, spent about a week in the Dominican Republic.
With Santiago as their home base, they made daily travels to outlying areas of the country, where the six doctors saw a total of about 400 to 500 patients per day.
The volunteers would often wake up by 6:30 a.m., leave to visit a village, and return to Santiago 12 hours later.
"They're long days," said Pedersen, who would normally see about 15 patients per day at his Grand Island office, compared to 80 per day on his volunteer trips. "They're enjoyable, but they're a lot of work."
Using basic examination equipment, the eye doctors were able to prescribe glasses to those who would not otherwise be able to afford eyewear. About 4,000 pairs of glasses donated to the Lions Club were brought into the country for distribution, and doctors did their best to match the prescriptions available to the patient needs, Pedersen said.
No matter what the politics of the country were or how the people viewed Americans, those who received assistance were grateful for VOSH's help, Pedersen said.
"They're in need financially, and they always appreciate the fact that we're there," he said.
In past years, Pedersen has been all over Central and South America, visiting countries including Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Guatemala all on his own dime. Sometimes his family members will accompany him, and Pedersen said he enjoys the opportunity to serve and to learn about countries and cultures other than his own.
The trips led to his decision to become fluent in Spanish, as well as his and his wife's adoption of a boy from Guatemala who is now in college.
Pedersen is a past president of Nebraska VOSH as well as an active member of the local Lions Club.
The most challenging aspect of planning the trips is finding a club or organization in the country that can help organize visits with patients, Pedersen said. Nebraska VOSH has worked with a variety of organizations in the past, including local Knights of Columbus and Lions Club chapters, as well as church groups.
Pedersen's persistence in organizing and attending the trips coincides with his character, said Al Knoepfel, a fellow Lions Club member.
"It's just consistent with his philosophy on life and his business and as a person and as a Lion," Knoepfel said. "When someone gets an opportunity to do something, that they can see it materialize."
Dr. Ellen Weiss, an optometrist in Omaha and the current president of Nebraska VOSH, said she believes Pedersen remains dedicated to the cause because he receives the same satisfaction from it that she does.
"It's a good way to recycle glasses and enable people to see that normally couldn't," Weiss said.
Pedersen said he is looking forward to taking another trip next year likely to Mexico.
"As long as I keep the energy to do it," he said, he'll keep going. "As long as my health allows."
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