The Uniontown Lions Club collects old or unwanted eyeglasses for distribution to the visually impaired in developing nations. While 130.4 millions Americans wear prescription eyeglasses, according to the Vision Council of America, many children and adults in developing nations struggle through life with poor or severely impaired vision, due to expensive and limited eye care resources. According to the World Health Organization, the eyesight of one-in-four people worldwide can be improved through the use of corrective lenses. In some developing nations, an eye exam can cost as much as a month's wages and there may be only one eye care physician available for several hundred thousand people. You can make a dramatic difference in the life of a child or adult by simply donating a pair of eyeglasses.

Despite the profound need for eyeglasses around the world, 68% of eyeglasses still languish in dresser drawers or get thrown away, according to a survey sponsored by Lions Clubs International. In fact, more than 75% of Americans who purchase prescription eyeglasses do not recycle their old eyeglasses when they buy a new pair, and more than half (62.2%) of those surveyed purchase new eyewear at least once every two or three years.

All types of eyeglasses and sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription, are acceptable. Exceptionally strong or weak prescriptions are needed. Reading glasses are very useful because many recipients are craftsman in need of visual correction to help them perform close-up tasks. Sunglasses are needed by people living near the equator, especially those with cataract, to shield their eyes from the sun's damaging rays.

The eyeglasses you donate are processed by our club members. The glasses are cleaned, the prescriptions are read with our digital lensometer, and the glasses bagged and labeled. We then provide these glasses to several local optometrists who travel to Latin America to fit them to the poor. The glasses you donate today could be helping a poor villager see in a few months.

• Uniontown Post Office, 11320 Cleveland Avenue NW, Uniontown. Box is in lobby, which is open 24 hours a day.
   

• Ellet Post Office, 2390 Wedgewood Drive, Akron (Behind Eastgate Plaza). Box in lobby, open Monday-Saturday during lobby hours.


 
• Goodwill Industries of Akron, Waterloo Road Store (just west of I-77.) You may either put them in the box on the checkout counter, or drop them off at the drive-thru donations door.

• Goodwill Industries of Akron, Arlington Road Store (just south of Killian Road). Drop them off at the front counter.

• Uniontown Lions Festival - August 21-24 - We'll have a collection box in the black and white Lions Tent.