Treasurer launches solar eclipse glasses re-use donation program
Glasses to be given to schools in Latin America for Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse
Many were excited earlier this week to obtain the funky glasses needed for their families to watch the solar eclipse that covered much of America.
Those who still have them around can help others feel the same joy.
In the wake of Monday’s solar eclipse event many Macomb County residents are left wondering what to do with them.
Clinton Township Treasurer Paul Gieleghem is asking local residents to bring them to the Clinton
Township Civic Center, where they will be
collected and donated for a program he calls, “Spectacles
for the Next Solar Spectacle.”
“Imagine a classroom in a remote village, where students have only read about solar eclipses in their textbooks,” Gieleghem said, in a news release. “This program gives these students the opportunity to actually witness the next eclipse firsthand, with their own eyes, safely shielded by glasses provided by generous donors who live thousands of miles away.
The next solar eclipse in North America doesn’t take place until 2044, but scientists have identified a similarly rare event called a Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse expected to happen in October in a remote area of South America.
All glasses collected at the treasurer’s office will be shipped to a larger donation program run by Eclipse Glasses USA, a provider of protective eye covers.
According to their website, all glasses received before the Aug. 1 deadline will be inspected for safety prior to being donated to schools and students in Latin America.
“It’s not just about viewing an eclipse; it’s about bridging gaps, connecting people through a shared experience, and igniting a passion for the cosmos in young minds,” Gieleghem said.
Individuals who can’t make it to the Clinton Township Treasurer’s office during normal business hours can ship their glasses directly to Eclipse Glasses USA.
“For those in the area, bring your eclipse glasses here, drop them into our Eclipse Glasses donation box, and let your treasurer save you a few bucks on shipping,” Gieleghem said.