Not all families with children who need glasses can afford to buy them. As a result, these children struggle to read books, see a computer screen or look both ways before crossing a street. The longer they go without prescription eyeglasses, the poorer their sight will become, making everyday tasks even harder. You can help by donating new or used eyeglasses to children through organizations that will distribute them.
Instructions
things you’ll need:
Eyeglass screwdriver
Suggest Edits
1 Organize a collection drive for children’s eyeglasses or maintain a collection box throughout the year at your workplace, church, community center or even your home. Ask for children’s prescription eyeglasses with plastic frames in good condition only. Most vision-related charities also will take glasses with metal frames that are in any condition. Prescription lenses not in frames also will be accepted.
2 Make neighbors, co-workers, friends, family or others in your community (through your library or church, perhaps) aware of your efforts and how they can help through word-of-mouth, flyers, church bulletin inserts and neighborhood newsletter articles.
3 Remove broken lenses from frames, tighten frame screws with an eyeglass screwdriver, and wipe down each pair.
4 Find an eyeglass donation location. For example, your local Lions Club will accept them or might be able to tell you where to drop off your eyeglasses. A local optometrist’s office or an eyeglass frame store can repair the glasses if needed and distribute them to optical missions in developing countries. Also, OneSight’s website offers a search tool for users to find a donation bin in their neighborhood. Unite for Sight (uniteforsight.org) takes new eyeglasses and your local Goodwill (goodwill.org) also might accept new or used eyewear. Call ahead or check their website to be sure.
5 Send your collected children’s eyeglasses to a charity via mail if you can’t find a place to drop them off. For example, New Eyes for the Needy accepts donated eyeglasses. Be sure to arrange them securely in a cardboard box using protective packaging (like bubble wrap) so they aren’t broken en route.
New Eyes for the Need
549 Millburn Ave.
P.O. Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078