Glasses are one thing that many people have more than one of. Some may have an extra pair in case they lose their first pair or to have multiple pairs in various rooms of the house. Fashion trends are always changing, which means that a lot of people want new glasses every couple of years to match the trends. Some people’s prescriptions also change over time so they need to get new glasses to suit their new prescription. However they may get there, one can always find themselves with extra pairs of glasses lying around.
These glasses can actually serve a great purpose—through donating old eyeglasses to those in need. There are many people who need glasses but cannot afford them or do not have a way to reach them, so they rely on others who donate eyeglasses to solve their sight problems. According to OneSight, 1 in 7 people in our world do not have access to vision care. That is a staggering number and it is why donating old glasses is so important. Now, you may be asking yourself, “well, where can I donate old glasses?” Lucky for you, there are several places where you can donate old eyeglasses and you can be sure that the glasses will get to those who need them most.
Here is a list of multiple places where you can donate glasses old or new:
- The Lions Club International– This organization runs a program called Recycle for Sight where they collect old and new eyeglasses and distribute them to people in need in many developing countries. They’re determined to help solve the vision inequalities that exist among those in low and middle-income areas. They do this by encouraging you to recycle eyeglasses in one of their many donation boxes. You can drop your glasses off at a box located at various community centers, libraries, schools, and small businesses around the country. The glasses are then sent to an official Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center where they’re sorted into usable or not usable and then distributed to those in need. It is one of the Lions Club’s main charitable initiatives that extends across the globe. Donating old eyeglasses is a great way to help others and get involved in an amazing organization like the Lions Club.
- New Eyes– This program has two main missions as an organization. The first one is by purchasing new prescription eyeglasses for adults and children in the United States through a voucher program. The second mission is to donate both recycled and used eyeglasses to those in need overseas. They accept all types of glasses including non-prescription, prescription, kids glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses, and unopened boxes of contact lenses. It is important to note that they ask that you only donate glasses that are unbroken and in good condition to ensure that those in need receive good quality products. To find out more about how and where to donate old glasses to New Eyes click here.
- OneSight– This foundation runs free charitable clinics across the globe to help solve vision inequalities. They usually donate new glasses to their patients, but they also accept used eyeglasses as well. Your eyeglasses donation can either be mailed to the address listed here or dropped off at one of their collection boxes at various Sears Optical, Pearle Vision, and LensCrafters locations. This is where to donate old eyeglasses if you’re looking for a convenient service for yourself while still helping others.
- VSP Global– Their Eyes Make a Difference program is another great way to donate used eyeglasses to people in need across the globe. These are for people that cannot get to a clinic for vision care because of income, disaster, or distance. There are multiple steps to donating eyeglasses that you can follow by clicking here on their website. VSP Global works with Lions Clubs International to sort through the glasses and make sure they are appropriate for donation.
Other Ways to Get Involved
All in all, there are several options where to donate old glasses so they can be used by those who need them most. All of these are great options so you can’t go wrong. They also accept donations from most locations in the United States by mail so you also don’t necessarily have to be local to participate. This is a great answer to the problem of finding a place to donate glasses near me. They all have other ways to volunteer and help to end vision inequalities across the globe, so we recommend visiting their websites to find out more about getting involved in other ways besides only donating eyeglasses. One way to get involved is to volunteer at a donation center sorting glasses or at a vision clinic run by one of these amazing organizations. Another way to get involved would be to host an eyewear drive benefiting one of these organizations. You can collect old or new eyeglasses to benefit someone in need. All of these are great ways to be a part of a wonderful cause.
Many people think when they are done with a pair of glasses that they are going to go to waste, but that is not the case when you figure out just what to do with old prescription glasses. It may seem hard to donate eyeglasses because they’re so personal and customized to one specific person. Especially to donate prescription glasses due to the complexities of eye prescriptions. However, for someone who has no access to vision care, the smallest bit can help. Therefore, even if the prescription is not exactly right, it will still be an improvement for someone who has been struggling without glasses for so long. That is why it is so important to know where to donate glasses new or old and how it helps those in need. Donating eyeglasses is a great way to clean out your junk drawer and do a good deed at the same time.