The San Carlos Lions Club is helping community members transform old and unwanted eyeglasses into resources for people in need through its annual glasses collection drive. The drive, Lions In Sight, works to collect used prescription glasses and sunglasses for those who cannot afford them.
Across San Carlos, people participate by visiting a local donation site and dropping off eyeglasses they no longer use, or by spreading the word to their friends and family.
This year, the San Carlos Lions Club collected over 600 pairs of glasses, while the Lions clubs across San Mateo County collected a total of 25,000 pairs, according to Cori Carpenter, a Lions Club member. Each year, the collection effort continues to grow larger as more local businesses, schools, and community centers host collection boxes.
“I’ve been a member of the Lions Club for a little over 22 years. And when I joined, there were two big reasons: It’s service, and it’s fundraising,” said Grant Du Bois, president of the San Carlos Lions Club. “They try to help people in their communities.”
The drive’s collection cycle begins in March and continues through World Sight Day on Oct. 8, although the club accepts donations all year. The current drop-off spots include the San Carlos Library, Tierra Linda Middle School, the Adult Community Center, Family Eye Center, All Eyes on You, and many local optometry offices. However, the program itself supports not only local residents in need, but also communities around the world where access to eye care is limited.
“The San Carlos Lions Club and Lions clubs all over the world collect used eyeglasses that are then cleaned and repaired if needed,” Carpenter said. “These glasses are then given to those who cannot afford glasses.”
After they are donated, the glasses are sent to a Lions processing center, where volunteers sort, clean, and determine the prescription for each pair. Some of these glasses are taken to the Santa Rosa Lions Eye Center, a foundation sponsored by the Lions Club, while others are moved through district-wide collection events before being processed for distribution. After they are sorted, the glasses are packaged and sent to free Lions vision clinics or local outreach programs, as well as international medical missions that support underserved communities.
“We met two optometrists from South America. One of them was like, ‘Oh my gosh, we get your glasses.’ She was so excited,” said Carrie Du Bois, a member of the San Carlos community. “What they do for people who can’t afford glasses is provide free eye exams to figure out what type of glasses people need, and then they’re qualified enough to look at a pair of glasses and get the right glasses for the person, and it’s free. So they were just so grateful to this program.”
Lions In Sight was first founded in 1987 by Dr. Wayne Cannon and became a non-profit in 1992. In addition to helping individuals around the world, the program also promotes sustainability by keeping usable eyeglasses, sunglasses, and metal parts out of landfills. Lions In Sight also accepts hearing aids, printer cartridges, and cell phones, which are either refurbished or recycled to help raise funds for the organization’s broader mission.
“Another thing that’s great about service organizations is that you get to know people in the community,” Du Bois said. “They’re all coming from different walks of life.”
The Lions In Sight program offers a meaningful way to make a difference not only in one’s community but across the world.
“Where there is a need, there is a Lion,” Carpenter said.
