Changing Lives One Pair at a Time: Camas Lions Club Joins Eyeglass Sorting Effort
October 2024, Camas, WA — In a continued effort to improve vision care worldwide, several Lions Clubs from across Clark County participated in an eyeglass sorting event. This initiative is part of a global effort to collect and recycle eyeglasses for individuals in need, particularly in underserved regions of the world where access to affordable eye care is limited.
At the event, volunteers diligently sorted the donated glasses into several categories, including Single Vision, Multi-focal, Sunglasses, Readers, and glasses destined for recycling. Once organized, the eyeglasses will be sent to the Northwest Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (NWLERC), where they will be washed, inspected, and their prescriptions determined using lensometers. After this process, the glasses will be prepared for international missions aimed at delivering free eyewear to people in remote and developing countries.
Addressing a Global Need
The importance of this work cannot be overstated. In many parts of the world, millions of people suffer from vision impairment and lack access to even basic eye care services. For some, a pair of glasses is the difference between being able to work, attend school, or lead an independent life. Many walk long distances to reach mission sites, where volunteer eye care professionals provide much-needed eyeglasses, giving people the gift of clear sight—something they might never afford on their own.
The NWLERC is powered entirely by volunteers, ensuring that no usable eyeglasses go to waste. For glasses that are deemed unusable, they are responsibly recycled, while others are refurbished for use in humanitarian missions around the world. Volunteers with specialized training read the prescriptions on the glasses to ensure they are properly categorized and ready for shipment to areas in desperate need.
How to Get Involved
If you are passionate about community service and want to make a positive difference, now is the perfect time to join the mission of the Lions Clubs. Several Lions Clubs in Clark County are actively seeking new members who share their commitment to making a lasting impact.
For more information on how to get involved and contribute to initiatives like the eyeglass sorting project, go to https://www.lionsclubs.org/ and click on the “FIND A CLUB” link.