If you have a pair of old eyeglasses laying around, don’t throw them away, donate them. Many people who need glasses can’t afford them. You can help by collecting or purchasing eyeglasses to donate to Lions Clubs across the country. The Lions Club, through its program Lions Recycle For Sight, has been collecting, recycling and distributing glasses for those in need for more than 70 years. You can designate to which mission you would like your glasses to be donated. A simple action can help improve eyesight around the world.
Instructions
1 Collect you old eyeglasses. They can be prescription or non prescription, adult or children sizes, eyeglasses, reading glasses or sunglasses.
2 Package them up using protective wrap to ensure they do not break.
3 Locate the closest Lions Club collection center near you. Libraries, schools, places of worship, coffee shops, community centers and optometrist offices typically are locations where you can drop off your donated eyeglasses.
4 Drop your eyeglasses donations off at a desired location. Or mail them to, Eyeglass Recycling, Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation, 404 Portland Street, Columbia, MO 65201, or, Lions Clubs International Headquarters, Attention: Receiving Department, 300 West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, IL, 60523.
5 Designate which mission you would like the glasses sent to when dropping off or mailing. The Lions Club will forward your donation to your requested mission.
Tips & Warnings
OneSight, another organization providing eyeglasses to the needy needs your donations. OneSight also offers drop-off locations around the country. Encourage others to donate their old eyeglasses. Remember sunglasses are needed as many missions reside in sunny climates where sunglasses are very much needed for people living there. Don’t worry if your eyeglasses are not in the best condition, the organizations will refurbish or recycle them into usable eyeglasses.
Don’t think that just one pair of glasses is not worth donating. Every pair helps a child read, an adult succeed at their job, or an elderly person maintain independence.