Officials at Newark's Look Up Center saw the costs for people who can't afford to see.

"If someone lacks access to these services, it can limit their ability to do other things; to read, to learn, to drive, to do a job, to fill out an application for a job. It's a long list," said Kathy Wise, O.D., of Newark Optometry, the primary physician operating the Look Up Vision Clinic. The free vision clinic is the first of its kind in Licking County.

The Look Up Center will also be the first free dental clinic in the area to offer not only emergency extractions, but also routine dental hygiene. Currently, 12,000 people are living without health insurance in Licking County, and even more below poverty guidelines.

The Community Health Clinic has offered general care and medication from volunteer physicians since 1986, but vision and dental resources for the poor and uninsured has remained an issue since. The Look Up Center, a faith-based non-profit organization founded in 2004 by Scott and Bernice Hayes, has been gearing up to change that.

The first free vision clinic in Newark opened July 16. The clinic will offer comprehensive eye exams and glasses to patients who are living without insurance and/or below poverty guidelines.

Kathy Wise of Newark Optometry will be the primary physician volunteering at the clinic until the center is able to build a larger volunteer staff. "We want them to have a good quality of life and if they have glasses that are outdated or no glasses at all, that can't fully happen," she said in an interview.

The clinic will run once a month, but Lori Hubble, Director at the Look Up Center, hopes that "once the word gets out and we see there's a greater need, we're going to work on building the staff and hopefully, eventually, we'll have it once a week."

Aces of Trades:Lori Hubble finds her place serving God, others at Look Up Center

Patients must have been a Licking County resident for 6 months and be uninsured, and/or living below poverty guidelines. On the clinic's first day, July 16, they had six appointment slots. Scheduling an appointment is necessary to be seen and can be done by calling Pathways at 211.

"I just want to add that so many people have helped get this ready to go. There have been so many volunteers here at the Look Up Center that put in new floors, painted that room, put ventilation in, people who put the equipment in there, and the ones who bought the equipment went out of their way to get a good deal... It really helped stretch what money we had," said Dr. Wise.

"And we received grant funding from Licking Memorial Hospital and also the Energy Co-op, so that was a real, true blessing," added Hubble.

In addition to the new vision clinic, the Look Up Center's Dental Clinic is expanding into Dental Hygiene Services. Previously the clinic offered free tooth extractions and "emergency" dental procedures. From August of 2011 to July of 2019, the clinic and its team have given $844,000-plus in free dental work to the Licking County community.

Since opening the clinic, however, Susan Steinman, Clinical Operations Director, and Deena Robinson, Dental Hygiene Coordinator, have wanted to offer more routine services.

"It was always in the back of our minds, you know, to add exams and cleanings and other things. Now, we finally have the opportunity," said Steinman.

"We are all excited to announce the new Look Up Dental Hygiene program that will provide Free Clinical Exams, x-rays, oral cancer screenings, and dental cleanings," Robinson wrote in a prepared statement.

"I feel honored that God has trained my hands and faithfully provided a way to deliver free oral health care to improve the total body health of our Licking County community," she continued.

The staff of the dental team is entirely volunteer-based, and the center is looking to get more physicians involved. For more information on how physicians can volunteer, or anyone who would like to participate with the Look Up Center, call (740) 345-6026.

To schedule an appointment with either program, contact Pathways at 211.