Lions taking 2000 glasses to St. David’s Lions Club
Usable Glasses and Hearing Aids Can Make a Difference!
Lions help to conserve sight by providing usable eyeglasses to children and adults throughout the world. Hearing Aids help Seniors in need in Canada
The Fort Erie Lions collect prescription eyeglasses and hearing aids at the following locations in the community:
- Fort Erie Lions Seniors Centre, 265 High St.
- Dr. Frances Dubé Optometry, 1264 Garrison Rd.
- Dr. Patricia Teal Cosmetic Laser and Aesthetics, 238 Bertie St.
- Amore Eyewear, 238 Bertie St.
- Benner Funeral Services, 1105 Benner Ave.
- Fort Erie Public Library, 136 Gilmore Rd.
- Vision Clinic, 235 Garrison Rd.
- Walmart, 750 Garrison Rd.
Why Recycle Glasses?
An estimated 120 million people* are visually impaired because of uncorrected refractive errors (far and near sightedness). Almost all cases can be corrected and normal vision can be restored with eyeglasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery. The lack of eyeglasses denies children and adults opportunities for education, employment and a better quality of life.
The Journey of Recycled Glasses and Hearing Aids
1.The Fort Erie Lions take collected eyeglasses to St. Davids & District Lions Club, to be added to glasses and hearing aids collected within our Niagara Region district.
2. The glasses and hearing aids are shipped to the Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (CLERC) in Calgary, Alberta.
- Trained volunteers sort, clean and determine the prescription strengths of the glasses.
- Trained volunteers sort, clean, determine working status of the hearing aids.
3. Eyeglasses
Volunteers at the recycling center carefully package the prepared glasses and store them until they are required for eyeglass dispensing missions. Glasses that are not suitable for reuse are recycled for scrap, with the earnings benefitting local Lions and Leos projects.
At the mission sites around the world, eye care professionals and trained Lion and Leo volunteers perform vision screenings and dispense the appropriate recycled glasses, free of charge, to children and adults in need.
4. Hearing Aids
Volunteers at the recycling centre send hearing aids to several locations in Canada for a variety of uses. For example, a retired audiologist in Lethbridge, Alberta, who is also a Lion, after refurbishing the hearing aids sends them to a mission in Chile to be distributed to those in need. A local audiologist in Calgary after refurbishing hearing aids distributes them free to seniors residing in local nursing homes. Dalhousie University’s audiology program receives hearing aids for student audiologists to practise their new craft. To name just a couple important uses.
Your Efforts Count!
Donate your used prescription glasses and hearing aids to one of our community partners listed above.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
–Helen Keller
* World Health Organization Statistics