Plaughers return from Haiti

A Bluffton couple has returned from Haiti after an earthquake early last week left the country in a state of devastation.

 

Arliss and Barbara Plaugher, of Bluffton, left for Haiti on January 10 to participate in a VOSH-Ohio mission. VOSH is an acronym for Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity and is comprised of optometrists and others who volunteer their time and services to provide eye care for people in underdeveloped countries all over the world.

 

While in Haiti, 2,256 patients were cared for by the Plaughers and their team of VOSH volunteers.

 

Dr. Darrell Groman, of Bluffton, co-founded VOSH-Ohio in 1987. The basement of Pandora United Methodist Church is the headquarters of the local VOSH movement.

 

Many of the eyeglasses donated come from Lions Clubs. Barbara Plaugher is a former president of the Bluffton Lions Club and she and her husband, Arliss, are both current members.

 

The couple was safe during their time spent in the torn country, but had difficulty finding a way to get home after they completed their mission in Haiti. They were located more than 100 miles away from the capital city of Port-au-Prince and had trouble getting to Port-au-Prince due to blocked roads.

 

Barbara reported that she and Arliss, along with other Americans waiting to get back to the states, stood in various lines for hours at a time. The Bluffton couple took a cargo plane from Haiti that carried news anchors Ann Curry, Brian Williams and Katie Couric.  

 

After being evacuated by the U.S. Air Force cargo plane, the couple returned home late Saturday night, January 16.

 

*Photo above is courtesy of Barbara Plaugher.