Changing Lives, One Pair at a Time
In just about any dresser drawer, one can find a pair of eyeglasses that are no longer being used. That same pair of eyeglasses can change another person’s life.
Lions Recycle for Sight
Lions Recycle for Sight is a Lion’s project which collects unwanted spectacles and recycles them for re-distribution to people who would not otherwise have access to spectacles. Lions Clubs in the UK and from other European countries including France, Germany, Greece, Spain and Switzerland participate in this project. Spectacles that are collected by Lions Clubs in the UK are passed to HQ who coordinate the spectacle collections and sort and remove broken ones. The spectacles are then packed for transportation to Medico in Le Havre, France.
At Medico spectacles from all over Europe are washed and cleaned before being sorted, graded and then placed in plastic wallets. They are then sent to Lions Clubs, mainly in Africa, who manage the distribution to those people who need them.
Medico France has three full-time employees and is managed by French Lions, who also carry out all the administration at no cost. Funding is from French Lions Clubs and elsewhere, including Lions Clubs International Foundation.
Medico processes and ships out 5 million pairs of glasses each year. The glasses are inspected, and sorted into ok to re-use or damaged. The damaged pairs are recycled, with the glass lenses taken out, crushed in a machine on site, then sold to a glass manufacturing company. Likewise the frames are sold on to a company who recycles them. All the money raised from recycling goes to cover the cost of shipping the refurbished and graded glasses to where they are needed.
The current projects (April 21024) that were being prepared are
- 12000 pairs to Angola
- 600 pairs to Senegal
- 5000 pairs to Congo
If you have unused spectacles or are able to offer a collection point please complete the form below and we will get back to you.
Recycling Glasses request form
Lions Recycle for Sight Poster
Lions Recycle for Sight Recycling Sticker for flip top bin (self print)
Tony collects used glasses from the following opticians:
Templeman Opticians
32 High St, Maldon CM9 5PN
Martin James Opticians & Hearing Centre
1 Market Hill, Maldon. CM9 4PZ
Observatory The Opticians & Hearing Centre
20 Heralds Way, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford. CM3 5TQ
David Russell Opticians
100 Church Rd, Tiptree, Colchester. CO5 0AB
Robyn & Rick collect used glasses from the following opticians:
Templeman Opticians
Unit 2, Asda Centre, North Shoebury Road, Shoeburyness. SS3 8UE
Bay Optical
130 The Broadway, Thorpe Bay. SS1 3ES
Simply Specs
159 Woodgrange Drive, Southend-on-Sea. SS1 2SF
Boots Opticians
59-61 High Street, Southend-on-Sea. SS1 1HZ
Goldsmith Webb Opticians
25 Queens Road, Southend-on-Sea. SS1 1LT
North Road Primary Care Centre
183-195 North Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. SS0 7AF
Valkyrie Primary Care Centre
50 Valkyrie Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. SS0 8BU
Westcliff Train Station lost property office
Southend Hospital Charity Shop
183 Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. SS0 7EL
Southend in Sight
SAVS Centre, 29-31 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea. SS1 1BW
Goldsmith Webb Opticians
15 North Street, Rochford. SS4 1BD
Faith, Hope and Charity
Hedingham Place, Ashingdon Road, Rochford. SS4 1UP
Allspecs
Unit 1a, 50 Progress Road, Leigh-on-Sea. SS9 5PR