Pre-loved glasses donated in Mount Gambier are being sent to developing countries as part of a Lions’ initiative to help improve the vision of people in need.
Ross Parkinson from the Lions Club of Mount Gambier said about 2850 pairs of glasses were donated in the city last financial year.
They are initially sent to Lions Recycle for Sight Australia, headquartered in Queensland.
The glasses are machine and hand-cleaned before being sorted in lensometer machines and boxed according to prescription, ready for shipment to Lions Clubs, church missions and humanitarian groups overseas.
Scratched, damaged or unacceptable glasses are culled, so that only the best glasses are provided.
The initiative is part of the Lions Clubs International Worldwide Eyeglass Recycling Program.
The Australian program has run for almost 30 years and resulted in more than 2.5 million pairs of spectacles being sent to Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, East Asia, the Far East and China.
Closer to home, glasses have been sent to countries in the Pacific Rim, Southern Asia and Oceania.
In the past 10 years Lions members with ocean-going yachts have also been able to reach villages in remote areas.
For further information and to arrange the collection of glasses please contact Ross Parkinson via email rosstparkinson@gmail.com or on 0400 107 571.
