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 $0.08 US 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.
Lions clubs collect millions of eyeglasses each year to address the need for glasses, making eyeglass recycling one of our most popular activities.
Free for You – Priceless to Them
Donate glasses and change someone’s life. Imagine if you could help a child read. An adult succeed in his job. A senior maintain her independence. And provide a community with more opportunities to grow and thrive.
Everyday, our recycled eyeglass programs do all of this and more. Here’s how you can donate glasses and help.
Drop Your Eyeglasses in Lions Collection Boxes
You can drop off your usable eyewear at Lions-sponsored collection boxes in your community. Typical locations include libraries, schools, community centers, places of worship, coffee shops, optometrist offices and other public locations where communities socialize and get together. For information specific to locations in your community, contact your local Lions club.
In addition to eyeglasses, drop your used or unwanted hearing aids in the collection boxes as well. North Dakota Lions clubs will also recycle those as well through other organizations that deal with hearing problems.
For more information on the North Dakota Eyeglass Recycling program, contact
Dennis Friesz – dmfriesz@midco.net
The Fargo Lions Go One Step Farther
LIONS 2016 VISION MISSION TO PUERTO VALLARTA
JAMESTOWN, ND – State fundraising efforts will allow members of the Lions Clubs in Fargo, Jamestown, Mandan, Bismarck, and New England to go on a vision mission trip to Mexico.
17 individuals will provide vision screenings and glasses for over 1,000 people in need. A partnership with Puerto Vallarta Lions Club will allow North Dakota Lions to visit 250 patients each day between February 21st through the 24th. Many of the patients receiving care are in poverty and do not have financial resources to purchase glasses. Many of the individuals are grade school children.
Individuals assisting with the mission include Dr. Steve Thom (Fargo), Allie Thom (Fargo), Pat Brown (Fargo), Joe Dobbs & Dana Dobbs (Fargo), Sue Anderson & Troy Anderson (Fargo), Dwaine & Joyce Heinrich (Jamestown), Kevin & Pat Vannett (Mandan), Bill & Alice Schott (Bismarck), Carolyn Probst (Minot), Ethin Wolff (Minot), Lance Jacobs (New England) and Michelle McCormick (New England).