| Home | About LPLC | Programs |
Fundraisers | News & Events | Get Involved! |
| LCIF SightFirst | Eyeglass Recycling |
Vision Programs | Camp Merrick |
| GMHS Scholarship | Blood Drive | More Programs |
The Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Program was adopted as an official service activity of Lions Clubs International in October 1994. However, Lions have been recycling eyeglasses for approximately 80 years. The goal of the program is to meet the demand for quality eyeglasses in developing nations. Currently, it costs less than US.08 to provide someone with recycled eyeglasses.
There are 13 official Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers in the world (seven in the U.S., one each in Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Republic of South Africa, and Spain). Lions volunteer their time and services to prepare the eyeglasses for distribution, cleaning and categorizing each pair by prescription. Optical missions sponsored by Lions clubs and other groups distribute donated eyeglasses to needy people. In addition, programs have been established to train prisoners to prepare donated eyeglasses. These individuals are provided with an opportunity to learn skills for use when released and the satisfaction of knowing they are helping others.
The Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers also instruct Lions on how to properly dispense the eyeglasses. When training is completed, the recycling centers continue to provide eyeglasses to the local Lions responsible for managing their respective programs.
All types of eyeglasses and sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription, are acceptable. Reading glasses are also useful because many recipients are in need of visual correction to help them perform close-up tasks. Sunglasses are needed by people living near the equator in order to shield their eyes from the sun's damaging rays.
In fiscal year 2004-05, the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers reported a collection of more than 5 million pairs of eyeglasses, distributing to more than 3 million people in developing nations.
You can help! Collection boxes are available locally to recycle old eyeglasses at:
|
Wal-Mart Store #1981 |
McKay's |
Cedar Point Federal Credit Union |
|
Bayshore Eyecare |
Navy Optometry Clinic |
Guidelines for Donating Eyeglasses
Individuals may donate used eyeglasses to Lions clubs via:
- Lions collection boxes (available for purchase through Lions Club Supplies) located at various community offices and businesses,
- Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers,
- Offices of American Optometric Association or the Canadian Association of Optometrists members,
- Goodwill Industries stores,
- LensCrafters stores.