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A CLUB GUIDE FOR
COLLECTING USED EYEGLASSES
LIONS EYEGLASS RECYCLING PROGRAM
CARE
GIVE
RECYCLE
Usable glasses can
make a difference!
Your support of the Lions Recycle For Sight
Program is important.
Eyeglass collection is an easy and rewarding
activity that will raise your club’s visibility and
provide your fellow Lions with a great deal of
satisfaction in serving others. The used
eyeglasses collected in your community can
help children and adults in developing
countries enjoy a better quality of life. Many
will experience corrected vision for the first
time, enabling them to read, attend school,
gain employment and take care of their
families. Your collection efforts can change
the lives of many across the globe.
This guide contains suggestions for novice
clubs and clubs that have collected for many
years. You’ll find useful information for
contacting community organizations to enlist
their assistance as well as tips for expanding
public awareness and participation in
recycling.
If you have any questions or need further
information, staff at Lions Clubs International
Headquarters will be glad to assist you.
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The Need is Great
Professional and efficient collection of used eyeglasses in public locations will ease collection efforts, help
to strengthen the program and increase the amount of eyeglasses available.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates more than 157 million people around the world have
uncorrected refractive errors (near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism). Refractive errors can be
easily corrected with eyeglasses, yet millions of people in low and middle-income countries lack access to
basic services.
Collected eyeglasses undergo “processing,” which includes:
• Sorting
• Cleaning
• Neutralizing or Grading (using a lensometer to determine the prescription)
• Categorizing by prescription
• Packaging in preparation for distribution.
Lions and other mission teams deliver them free of charge to people in need in developing countries.
Starting the Collection Process
To begin, clubs usually appoint a Lions Eyeglass Collection Coordinator. Clubs may also work with the
District Sight Chairperson to organize collection efforts.
All types of glasses for children and adults are needed, including very strong and very weak prescriptions.
Reading glasses and non-prescription sunglasses are also useful.
Lions must obtain permission from participating community businesses, schools, governmental agencies or
organizations prior to placing the recycling boxes in the designated areas. A sample “Collection Agreement”
form (IAD-406) is included in this guide for the club’s use.
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Recycling boxes may be placed in community
locations such as:
• Banks
• City administrative center
• Coffee shops and restaurants
• Colleges and universities
• Commuter stations
• Dry cleaners
• Elementary schools
• Funeral homes
• High schools
• Lasik surgery offices
• Libraries
• Major department stores
• Major grocery stores
• Ophthalmologists’ offices
• Optometrists’ offices
• Pharmacies
• Places of worship
• Shopping malls
• Video stores
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Program Guidelines
The following guidelines can help you start and
maintain a successful eyeglass collection activity:
Lions Eyeglass Collection Boxes
Collection boxes placed in public places represent
not only your club, but Lions Clubs International.
The boxes must be clean, attractive, in good
condition, and emptied at regular intervals. An
official eyeglass collection box is available
through the Lions Club Supply Catalog (item #
G-1174-DS). For convenience, orders may be
placed online at www.lionsclubs.org.
Clubs may also choose to design their own custom
collection boxes. Lions club collection box decals
are available at a nominal cost through the Health
and Children’s Services Department via email at
eyeglasses@lionsclubs.org.
Retrieval of Donated Eyeglasses
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All collection boxes should be emptied on the
1st and 15th of each month, or more frequently,
if necessary.
■
The club’s name and current contact information
should appear on the box in the event the box is
full and needs to be emptied.
■
Remember also to collect unclaimed glasses
from the lost and found departments of local
hotels, stores, restaurants, train stations, airports
and other public places. Lions clubs should have
a pre-arranged agreement with these places of
business.
■
Before shipment of glasses to a regional or
international Lions eyeglass recycling center,
Lions may dispose of glasses:
• with broken frames and loose lenses
• with scratches on the lenses in the line
of vision
• with trifocals or progressive lenses
■
Only when metal frame eyeglasses are damaged
beyond repair, remove the lenses and recycle the
frames. If in doubt, include the glasses in the
shipment. The Lions eyeglass recycling center
will determine if the glasses are usable.
efforts to recycle for sight. It has space to include
the club’s contact information.
Resources
The Lions Clubs International Web Site at
www.lionsclubs.org contains a section devoted
to eyeglass recycling, which includes the Lions
Eyeglass Recycling Centers List and a sample
press release for local newspapers, radio and
television stations.
■
“Lions Recycle For Sight” Brochure
(code IAD-403) is an attractive informational
publication for distribution to the public.
■
“Lions Recycle For Sight” – Collection
Location Form (code IAD-404) allows for a
listing of six of the club’s collection sites in the
community. This information shall be submitted
to the Health and Children’s Services
Department for posting on the association’s Web
Site as a resource for community residents who
want to donate glasses. The form is found on
page 15 of this guide.
■
“Lions Recycle For Sight” Certificate of
Appreciation (code IAD-405) is designed for
presentation to a school, community organization
or local business in recognition for its
outstanding support and assistance in the Lions
Recycle For Sight Program. This prestigious
certificate is suitable for framing and can also be
awarded to a Lions member, an adult or a child
to recognize their excellent efforts in eyeglass
collection.
Your Club’s Web site can be a valuable resource
tool to alert the public about your participation in
the Lions Recycle For Sight Program. Remember
to list the names and addresses of all the
community organizations, businesses and schools
who are displaying the Lions eyeglass collection
boxes.
Health and Children’s Services Department at
eyeglasses@lionsclubs.org offers information and
resource materials including:
■
“Lions Recycle For Sight” Community
Poster (code IAD-402) is an eye-catching
promotional piece that can be displayed in public
areas to announce the participation and support
of the community in Lions Clubs International’s
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“Lions Recycle For Sight” Collection
Agreement (code IAD-406) signifies the
cooperation and commitment of both the Lions
and the community organization, school or local
business involved in the Recycle For Sight
Program.
“Lions Recycle For Sight” Materials Order
Form (code IAD-409) is available on the
association’s Web Site and contains a listing of
all promotional materials to help start and
maintain a successful eyeglass collection
campaign. Please use this form to order the
materials you will need.
“Lions Recycle For Sight” Kit (code KITRFS) is a
handy envelope containing a sample of materials
developed to promote and maintain a successful
eyeglass collection in your community. A
“Recycle For Sight” lapel pin is also included.
“New Glasses, New Life” (code IAD28-DVD) is
an excellent 10-minute presentation (English only)
that explains the Lions Eyeglass Recycling
Program. It can be shown to Lions, schools,
community groups or local businesses who may
display the collection containers. The DVD may be
purchased from the Health and Children’s Services
Department for US$3.95, plus shipping and
handling.
Lions Recycling
Events
May is “Recycle for Sight” Month
Give your club’s eyeglass recycling program a
boost and participate in this popular Lions activity.
Remember to submit the ”Recycle For Sight
Reporting Form” found on page 12 of this guide
and on the association’s Web Site.
Lions World Sight Day
(second Thursday of October)
World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness
that focuses on blindness and vision loss.
Organizations worldwide work together to raise
awareness of the global movement for the
elimination of avoidable blindness. Clubs are
encouraged to conduct an activity on this day or
any time during the month of October.
Club Events
Community and Lions club events provide ideal
opportunities for promoting and sponsoring an
eyeglass collection.
Visit www.lionsclubs.org for more information about
these events.
“Journey of a Pair of Eyeglasses” is a free
slide show presentation accessed through the
association’s Web Site. In a series of 14 slides, the
viewer is taken on “the journey” of a pair of used
eyeglasses…from the moment they are donated to
the time they are given to a person in another part
of the world.
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Suggested Recycling Activities
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Display the “Lions Recycle For Sight” poster and brochures at your collection locations to promote
community awareness.
Obtain a city proclamation to designate a special day in your community as the annual “Recycle For
Sight Day. “
List your collection sites in the local newspaper, community cable network, and your club’s Web
site.
Hold an eyeglass collection in coordination with a community health fair event, or a community
“spring cleaning” initiative.
Give a “Lions Recycle For Sight” presentation at a local school to get students and faculty involved.
Work with Leos, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other youth groups to collect used glasses.
Hold a club or district contest for eyeglass collection to spark interest in recycling.
Use LCI public relations tools and resources to promote your eyeglass recycling program.
Download the “Lions Recycle For Sight” logo on the association’s Web site for use in newsletters
and other communications.
Share Your Results
Use the handy “Recycle For Sight Reporting Form” on page 12 of this guide, and the association’s
Web Site, to highlight your club’s accomplishments. Include photos, newspaper articles or collection
stories, or submit same using the form posted on the Web.
Lions Clubs International Eyeglass
Collection Database
A database to track eyeglass collection locations is available to Lions and members of the public to ease
the collection process. All clubs involved in the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program are requested to
complete and submit the “Lions Recycle For Sight – Collection Location Form” (code IAD-404) to
list the collection locations in their communities. When LCI receives the information, it will posted on the
LCI Web Site.
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Your Used Eyeglasses Can Help
Someone See Better
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Lions Clubs International Eyeglass
Recycling Centers
For more information about recycling centers, or to become a licensed Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center,
contact the Health and Children’s Services Department.
Optical Missions
Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers provide eyeglasses free-of-charge for optical missions. Lions, healthcare
workers, and service-minded volunteers from other organizations participate in optical missions. For more
information about Lions optical missions, refer to the association’s Web site at www.lionsclub.org.
Contact LCI for Further Help
For additional information about the Lions Clubs International Eyeglass Recycling Program, or to obtain
resource materials, please direct your inquiries to:
Lions Clubs International
Health and Children’s Services Department
300 W 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: 630.468.6728
Fax: 630.571.1692
E-mail: eyeglasses@lionsclubs.org
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RECYCLE FOR SIGHT REPORTING FORM
May is “Recycle For Sight” Month. If your club held a recycling campaign during the month of May, or
participated in Lions World Sight Day, or other collection event during the year, please provide
the following information:
Note: An electronic version of this form is available on the Web site if you prefer to submit the information electronically.
Club Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Recycle For Sight Contact Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Daytime Phone: ____________________________________________________________________________________
E-mail: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
State/Province:
______________________ Postal Code: ________________ Country: ______________________
Eyeglass Collection Period Start Date: ________________________________________________________________
End Date:__________________________________________________________________________________________
Did your club partner with any other organization?
If yes, who was your recycling partner?
____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
If your club has been actively involved in the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program in your community:
How many years? __________________________________________________________________________________
Number of Eyeglasses Collected: ____________________________________________________________________
Collected Eyeglasses Sent to: ________________________________________________________________________
Date Eyeglasses Were Sent: ________________________________________________________________________
Comments?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Suggestions? ______________________________________________________________________________________
If you would like to share photos, newspaper articles or collection stories, please send them to:
Health and Children’s Services Department
Lions Clubs International
300 W. 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842
eyeglasses@lionsclubs.org
By submitting photos, articles and stories, you give Lions Clubs International permission for unlimited use. Photos and
clippings will not be returned. We may post your photos on the Web, in printed material or use them in next year’s materials!
COLLECTION AGREEMENT
This Collection Agreement is entered into by and between:
________________________________________________ Lions Club, located in __________________________________________
(city)
________________________________________ and __________________________________________________________________
(state)
(name of organization, business, school)
located in __________________________________________, ____________________________________________, until such time
(city)
(state)
either one of the parties desires to cancel this collection Agreement.
Purpose
The purpose of this Collection Agreement is to recognize the cooperation and commitment of both parties in their joint
efforts to collect used eyeglasses in support of the Lions Recycle For Sight Program. Lions will collect, process and distribute the recycled glasses for use during volunteer missions to developing nations.
Eyeglass Collection
• The Lions club will provide and maintain the number of eyeglass collection boxes to be displayed.
• The Lions club will empty the collection receptacle(s) on the 1st and 15th days of each month, or if in a high-traffic
area, more often.
• The Lions club’s name and contact information shall appear on the box in the event the box is full and needs to be
emptied.
• The Lions club will abide by the regulations of the organization, business or school.
• The Lions club will not use or display the name of the organization, business or school without prior written consent.
• The organization, business or school will promote eyeglass recycling through display of Lions eyeglass collection
receptacle(s), posters and informational brochures, all supplied by the Lions club, free of charge.
• The organization, business or school will notify the Lions club of a need for additional collection boxes or promotional
materials.
• The organization will incur no financial obligations in support of the Lions Recycle For Sight Program.
Agreed/date: __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lions Eyeglass Collection Coordinator: ____________________________________________________________________________
Name of Lions Club: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Organization, business or school representative: ____________________________________________________________________
Name of organization, business or school: ________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
IAD-406 2/10 EN
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LIONS RECYCLE FOR SIGHT
C O L L E C T I O N L O C AT I O N F O R M
If your Lions club is actively involved in eyeglass collection, please let us know the locations where members of the public
can donate used eyeglasses. This information will be entered into a database on the Lions Clubs International Web site for
easier access to collection sites. We will post a maximum of six (6) collection sites sponsored by your club. We also encourage you to list all of your collection locations on your club’s Web site.
Please provide the following information:
Name of Your Club: __________________________________________________________________________________
Club No. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Eyeglass Collection Coordinator:_______________________________________________________________________
Email Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________________ (for LCI’s use only)
COLLECTION LOCATION #1
Name of organization, community center or school: ______________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State/Province: ________________ Postal Code: ____________________________
COLLECTION LOCATION #2
Name of organization, community center or school: ______________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State/Province: ________________ Postal Code: ____________________________
COLLECTION LOCATION #3
Name of organization, community center or school: ______________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State/Province: ________________ Postal Code: ____________________________
over
COLLECTION LOCATION #4
Name of organization, community center or school: ______________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State/Province: ________________ Postal Code: ____________________________
COLLECTION LOCATION #5
Name of organization, community center or school: ______________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State/Province: ________________ Postal Code: ____________________________
COLLECTION LOCATION #6
Name of organization, community center or school: ______________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State/Province: ________________ Postal Code: ____________________________
Please submit form to:
Health and Children’s Services Department
Lions Clubs International
300 W. 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842
eyeglasses@lionsclubs.org
Fax: 630.571.1692
IAD-404 2/10 EN
CARE
GIVE
RECYCLE
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
Lions Clubs International
300 W 22ND ST
Oak Brook IL 60523-8842 USA
www.lionsclubs.org
Phone: 630.571.5466
Fax: 630.571.1692
IAD-401 2/10