THE NEED FOR GLASSES –153 Million Reasons Lions Recycle for Sight

According to The World Health Organization, 153 million people have uncorrected refractive errors (near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism). Most of these vision impairments are quickly diagnosed and easy to treat with corrective lenses.

Still, millions of people in developing nations are pushed deeper into poverty simply because they don't have glasses. They can't learn, because reading is difficult. They can't work to the best of their ability, because they can't see clearly.

It costs Lions less than US$0.08 to provide a pair of recycled eyeglasses and change someone's life.
For children, clear vision means a better education, healthier development and a better quality of life. For adults, it means greater employment opportunity and economic strength. For seniors it means less dependence on others.

See also:

The Lions Clubs International webpage on Sight programmes ... read more
The Lions Clubs International Foundation webpage on Sight programmes ... read more

Lions clubs collect millions of eyeglasses each year to address the need for glasses, making eyeglass recycling one of our most popular activities.

That's why Lions International started the Lions Recycle for Sight program. Everyone can help.
Throughout the year, Malahide Lions Club, Other Lions Clubs, Leos and other volunteers collect used eyeglasses and deliver them to regional Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers (LERCs). LERC volunteers clean, sort by prescription strength and package the glasses.  Most of the recycled glasses are distributed to people in need in developing countries where they will have the greatest impact.

Where can you drop off your used spectacles?
A spectacles collection box has been placed beside the elevator on the ground floor of the Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords. The brainchild of Malahide Lion Gerry O'Carroll, the Malahide and Swords clubs approached Swords Mens Shed (SMS) who willingly undertook to produce the box, made by their members Patrick Haughton, Matthew Graham and Ken Cullen. The Lions enlisted the help of Joe O'Donnell (Pavilions) to get permission to locate it in the Centre.

Above:(Lions unless stated)- Gerry O'Carroll,(Malahide),John Boylan (Swords), Joe O'Donnell (Pavilions) Sean Quigley (Swords), Ian Hunter (Pavilions Centre Director), Mary McNamara (Malahide) Patrick Haughton and Nicholas Keys (Swords Mans Sheds),Joe McDonnell (Malahide) Maurice Kealy (Swords)

Click on Images for larger version.

Photos courtesy of Peter Kealy, Swords.

President Seán Quigley,(Swords Lions) and V/President Mary McNamara (Malahide) place the first used spectacles in the box, while Ian Hunter (Pavilions) looks on.