RECYCLE AND REUSE... GLASSES EDITION!

You may have heard us talking about glasses donations or seen our bin in the office and wondered what that is all about. At Spectacle, we have donated to many different organizations, but as of lately, we have been donating used glasses to the Lions in Sight (LIS)- Lion’s Club of California and Nevada and wanted to share some insight into that process.

Why Lion’s CLub

Since 1925, the Lion’s Club International has helped to combat vision impairment and blindness. In developing countries, access to healthcare let alone glasses can be difficult and rather expensive. As you may know, the gift of sight is truly incredible. In other countries, it can help someone to increase not only their way of life, but also productivity in society as a way to support their family and community. The LIS group in particular started more recently in 1987, but along with those abroad, they also help to provide glasses to those here in the US that may need them, like veterans, homeless, and those of low-income. The LIS group gives back in more ways than one, by also training a small group on inmates in three California prisons to determine prescriptions on donated glasses, clean glasses, and package them to be shipped to donation locations.

What can be donated

We love that the Lion’s Club takes prescription glasses, sunglasses and non-prescription sunglasses as donations. They will even take broken glasses as they can be used in parts and the rest can be recycled as scrap. At this time, the Lion’s Club is not taking cases though.

How does it work

Once we have gathered a significant amount of donations to ship out, we ship a box full to the Lion’s Club. We clean, try to adjust them and count them before the send off. Once they are at the Lion’s Club, they will check the prescription, write it down to catalogue it, re-clean or adjust as needed, and package it to be sent with the next mission trip. Once there, eye exams are given to those in need. Once a glasses prescription is determined, it is then cross-referenced with all the glasses available to find the closest Rx, best shape and style for each patient.

Eyeglasses donations are just a small reminder of how one man’s “trash” can certainly be sight-saving for another! We are truly grateful to be partnering with such an incredible organization, like the Lion’s Club, with a rich history in helping the eyes of those around the world. Please remember to drop off any used, no longer needed, prescription glasses and sunglasses as well as non-prescription sunglasses. They truly can go along way to save the eyes and sight for someone else!