St. Petersburg Eye Care Specialists (SPECS) provides free eyewear to children in Pinellas County whose families lack financial means or insurance, through their Moxy Program. “Even if a child has insurance,” explains Jeremy Camargo of SPECS, “many providers create a lot of red tape.”
Camargo shares a recent case involving a 9-year-old who exhausted his insurance benefits and couldn’t get a replacement pair after damaging his glasses. “These are children. Sometimes things break,” says Camargo. “I just want to make sure kids get replacement glasses when they need them.”
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The Moxy Program launched five months ago and has since provided 67 free pairs of glasses to eligible children. Families can visit any of SPECS’ three locations to collect free, high-quality glasses that are polycarbonate, impact-resistant, and anti-reflective. SPECS operates three locations:
- 1900 1st Avenue North, St. Pete
- 7603 Seminole Blvd, Seminole
- 1903 Tyrone Blvd N., St. Pete
Moxy plans to become a non-profit
Camargo is currently collaborating with Sara O’Toole, Director of Nursing and Medical Services for Pinellas County Schools, and philanthropist Bob McIntyre to establish the Moxy Program as a non-profit. As a non-profit, Moxy will expand its services to include comprehensive eye care examinations. To enhance accessibility and equity, Moxy will introduce a mobile service, eliminating the need for families to travel to a SPECS location.
“The meaning of the word [Moxy] lets kids know we have their back,” says Camargo. Moxy embodies a force of character, determination, and nerve. Through the Moxy Program, children can receive the eye care they need to focus on their future.
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Moxy isn’t just supporting kids; it’s also committed to helping veterans. The program is currently working with the local VA to organize a mobile service for veterans. While Camargo dreams of further expansion, he shares with I Love The Burg that the primary goal for now is “to provide care for Pinellas County Schools and the Pinellas County VA. We’ll see where it goes from there.”
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