Monday, April 27, 2009

Mission 4 Monday







eyeglasses donation

Donating your old eyeglasses can save someone in a developing nation from unemployment. With the price of glasses exceeding three months' average salary in some African countries, donated eyeglasses are the only feasible way to bring sight to many visually impaired. These recycled glasses can be the difference between a blacksmith continuing his work or closing up shop, or the factor that enables a woman to support herself by doing embroidery rather than becoming destitute.


Medical missions often call their eye care facilities "joy clinics" because of the happiness that eyeglass donations bring. Imagine the feeling of being a boy who constantly did poorly in school because he couldn't see the words in his books all of a sudden having reading make sense because he received the gift of recycled glasses.


Yet while some mothers in poor, rural areas have never even clearly seen the faces of their children, more than four million pairs of unused eyeglasses go into the garbage in North America each year.


The good news is that you can make a huge difference in someone's life simply by donating your unworn eyeglasses and spreading the word to others. Groups such as the Lions Club can recycle eyeglasses for as little as 8 cents each. But they cannot do it without your help.



Donate your old eyeglasses and sunglasses to help people with eyesight difficulties worldwide. (Sunglasses can be non-prescription. They are needed in countries near the equator to help protect people's eyes from sun damage.) Collection facilities include Goodwill Industries stores, LensCrafters stores, and Lions Club drop boxes. Items also can be sent in padded envelopes or boxes to:


New Eyes for the Needy
549 Millburn Avenue
P.O. Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078


E-mail ten friends who wear glasses to see if they have old pairs that could be recycled for people with eyesight problems. Collect them for donation.


Check with lost and found departments in hotels, stores, police stations, and mortuaries for unclaimed glasses that could be donated.

8 comments:

Omah's Helping Hands said...

How sweet of you to bring this to the attention of many Denise. Just think of how many people you may have just helped!
We have donated before. We'll be sure and keep doing this. Thanks for letting us know of where to take them!
What a lovely gift you are brining to hopefully millions. You have a beautiful caring heart.

Pam D said...

Oooh.. I like this idea! (although, I wear my glasses til they fall apart, and then end up scavenging from them to repair the next pair, so mine are in pretty darn bad shape). I especially like the idea to check with various lost and found areas; that is something that I can do! Thanks for starting off my week with a mission, Denise! Hope you are blessed as much as you bless others...

luvmy4sons said...

You always amaze me with your Mission for Monday posts. Such great ideas for ANYONE to be able to make an impact for good in their world! Love ya!

April said...

This is a great one and something I've done with my girls' old glasses. Happy Monday!

RCUBEs said...

That's a great reminder that instead of wasting the eyeglasses, they remain very valuable to others who need them desperately so they can see. I pray many will come by your post and read this. My husband and I save our old ones and donate them. God bless. Have a great Monday.

Grace on the Narrow Path said...

Consider it done, my friend! God bless you.
Thank you too for praying for my mom and for me.
Hugs,
Bren

Peggy said...

Blessings Denise, Again you amaze me but by now I should just be so blessed that I know you will have a great MISSION! And donating your old glass wear is such a needed blessing that we forget about doing but so easy to do and WOW, you are so right about how it helps others.

You also bring more love & light into this world with your wonderful
Mission 4 Monday. Thanks Denise for always joining with my Mission 4 Monday and making every Monday count for me, looking forward to what you share. Bless you & your week.

Genefaith said...

God bless you Denise...Hope I can donate my eyeglass..i haven't worn it for ages...but my sis-in-law is using at this time