COMPTON—A vision of caring for people both physically and emotionally is the passion and inspiration of Angels for Sight and its founder Shea Hamilton .

The group offers free eye care and glasses to people who cannot afford a trip to the doctor.

Hamilton brought the organization to Compton five years ago, when eye care services for the needy appeared destined for extinction.

“I partnered with Lens Crafters, and they had a mobile clinic four times per year,” she said. ‘I always made sure they came to Compton. They went in a different business direction, but there was still a need in the city.”

Hamilton met with Mayor Eric J. Perrodin, who gave his blessings for a permanent Angels for Sight location in the Hub City.

“I found a building and the City Council leased it to us,” she said. “I took a loan on my house to bring it up to code.”

A group of businessmen dedicated the building to the city in 1964 on the condition that it benefitted children.

“We tried to find the previous owners to let them know their wishes had been granted, but were unable to do so,” Hamilton said.

Angels for Sight began as an organization that helped children but because of budget cuts to Medi-Cal, the service expanded to help seniors and parents.

“If we want the children to do well in school, the parents need to help them,” Hamilton said. “We started seeing seniors on a fixed income who could not afford to get prescriptions filled. Everybody who qualifies can get help.”

People on government assistance, electronic balance transfer, Social Security, general relief, disability and unemployment qualify, as well as people classified as working poor if they bring the most recent copy of their pay stub to the Angels for Sight office.

Providers donate time to the office, so people can get the care they need.

“We have 15 optometrists who come from Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Century City, Redondo Beach and Torrance, and others who come from the Inland Empire,” Hamilton said. “One of our students, Dr. Lana Tu went away to optometry school and made a promise that when she returned she would donate her time. She is back and kept her word. She is our doctor on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”

Finding new doctors is an ongoing process, Hamilton said, involving personal outreach, networking, and presence on the web.

“I get invited by doctors to speak at their individual society meetings, and I recruit at the event,” she said. “We also have friends who tell their optometrists about what we do, and they call us.”

Business is booming, as the group sees approximately 60 people per week.

“We go out and identify our patients in addition to referrals,” Hamilton said. “Every year we participate in 12 community health fairs in Los Angeles County. Anyone with 20-40 vision who meets the financial qualifications is put on the list. We also have a working relationship with the Compton Unified School District.”

Dr. Tu sees patients on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while the other doctors rotate in, depending on their schedules.

“We are open every day,” Hamilton said.

Angels for Sight has resources to help people suffering from serious vision issues.

“We have a wonderful partnership with Western University Health and Science College of Optometry,” Hamilton said. “Those patients get the care they need at no cost. They understand the patients we serve.”

Many companies and doctors donate equipment and supplies to the effort, and she refers to them as remarkable.

“A representative from Oakley is our spokesperson,” Hamilton said. “She goes and solicits groups to help us. We are planning a meeting with Lens Crafters, and hope they will become a main partner in our effort.”

Five years into the effort, Hamilton said, Angels for Sight is more than just a place to get glasses when someone cannot afford them.

“The feeling is overwhelming when you see the tears of seniors getting glasses,” she said. “They pray to God for a chance to see well, and appreciate our help. Students misbehave in school because they cannot see well, and we fix that.”

One project Angels for Sight is focusing on is veterans.

“Most people think the government takes care of them, and it is not true,” Hamilton said. “They protected us, and we take care of them.”

During the 2011 Veterans Stand Down in Compton 275 people received help from the group during the two-day event.

“We give to our veterans, and they give right back,” Hamilton said. “They help in whatever way they can.”

The group plans to move beyond the realm of eye care in 2012.

“We serve a lot of people who do not have a permanent address,” Hamilton said. “So we are going to honor them on three holidays during the year.”

The event, called “What about Me,” will turn the parking lot at Angels for Sight into a restaurant, and volunteers will serve home-cooked meals to the people who do not have a place to go.

“The first meal is planned for the day before Easter, April 7, followed by meals served the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Hamilton said. “Each person participating is going to bring a dish that serves 75 people. There will not be any sponsors.”

The meal is part of Hamilton’s vision of caring, evident every day at Angels for Sight.

“The wonderful part about this is the fellowship of people who gather and help each other,” Hamilton said. “We service all communities. We have no barriers.”

The five-year plan includes helping Katrina victims in Louisiana.

“I visited there last year, and a hospital for the indigent is not going to reopen,” she said. “Barbara Calhoun introduced me to someone from the area, and we identified appropriate places to build another location.”

Call 310-537-2102 for more information, or visit angelsforsight.org. The office is located at 920 N. Alameda Ave.