Lions Club, local agencies, businesses collect glasses for those in need
LAKE COUNTY >> Lions Club International has been collecting eye glasses to redistribute to people around the world in need of glasses.
The Lions Club donates about 30 million pairs of glasses each year to developing countries. (https:// iec2020.com/how-to-donate-eyeglasses). There are over 48,000 Lions clubs around the world with 1.5 million Lions clubs members.
As per their social media, The Early Lake Lions Club of Lakeport is “partnering with local businesses and agencies in the Lakeport area to host collection boxes for the Lions Clubs International Recycle for Sight program that collects usable eyeglasses for those in need around the world. Many folks have eyeglasses in their homes that are no longer needed by them but could help others in need.”
According to Ty Tupper, a 35-year Lake County Lions Club member (LCLC), District 4-C2 Lions Club has been collecting eye glasses for over 30 years. District 4-C2 is a division of Lions Clubs International and the California Multiple District 4, that stretches from the Golden Gate, north to Trinidad and east to the Sacramento River Delta. It is comprised of 56 individual Lions Clubs, six Lioness Clubs and six Leo Clubs, with approximately 1,500 members. (http://lionsdistrict4c2.com)
Bright green collection boxes have been distributed to the following locations in Lakeport: Lakeport Police Department at 2025 South Main Street; Robertson & Associates CPA’s at 1101 North Main Street; Clear Lake Gleaners at1894 Big Valley Road; Eye Care Optometric at 225 South Main Street; City of Lakeport; City Hall at 225 Park
Street; Northlake Medical Pharmacy/Store #2 at 347 Lakeport Blvd.
Prescription and nonprescription eye glasses and sunglasses can be donated (as per https://www. lionsinsight.net). Along with broken eyeglass part, clip-on sunglasses with metal parts (discard clipons that are all plastic).
“Glasses cases aren’t needed,” said Tupper. As per https://craftingagreenworld.com, the cases can be up cycled as a travel sewing kit, travel first aid kit, clutch, jewelry holder or manicure kit, among others.
“Twice yearly, when 200250 glasses have been collected, the LCLC ships the glasses to a universal distribution system in Vallejo,” said Tupper. “However due to COVID-19, the Vallejo center has temporarily shut down.”
The Lions Club International website (https:// temp.lionsclubs.org) quoted Helen Keller, a blind and deaf disability right advocate, who said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
When asked how long this eyeglass collection will continue, Chief Brad Rasmussen, also a Lions Club member said, “It’s ongoing. By donating your unneeded eye glasses you can help people around the world who do not have resources for glasses.”
“Twice yearly, when 200-250 glasses have been collected, the LCLC ships the glasses to a universal distribution system in
Vallejo. However due to COVID-19, the Vallejo center has temporarily shut down.”
— Ty Tupper, a 35-year Lake County Lions Club member (LCLC)