Lions clubs worldwide will be performing community service projects as part of the Lions In Sight initiative to raise public awareness of the vital role Lions clubs play in their communities.
As spring cleaning gets under way, the Hawaii Lions are asking people to look through dresser drawers and closets for used eyeglasses and hearing aids and donate them to the Lions Recycle For Sight program.
A big statewide drive is set for Saturday. Volunteers on all islands for the third annual Lions in Sight event will collect these items and recycle them.
The glasses will be distributed to those in need within developing countries where eye care is often unaffordable and inaccessible.
Most recently, 5,000 pairs of eyeglasses were distributed to villagers throughout the mountainous terrain of war-torn Afghanistan by Hawaii Lions Club members. In most developing countries, an eye exam can cost as much as one month’s wages, and a single eye doctor may serve a community of hundreds of thousands of people.
The glasses will be cleaned, categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution by Lions, Leos and other groups.
“According to the World Health Organization, the eyesight of approximately one-fourth of the world’s population can be improved through the use of a corrective lens,” said Hawaii Lions spokesman Irwin Santos.
Lions members in the 50th state collect eyeglasses year round.
“And on this day, the Lions members will be out in force receiving your unwanted eyewear from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart locations throughout the state,” said Santos.
“You may also place them in specially marked Lions Recycle For Sight collection boxes. Locations are also posted on the website. Visit hawaiilions.org and click on ‘used eyeglasses,'” he said.
This year, in addition to the eyeglasses, hearing aids also will be collected, cleaned and tested for local distribution.
Lions are known for their commitment to being “Knights of the Blind in the Crusade against Darkness,” a challenging statement made by Helen Keller in 1925. For more information, please call Alice Kudo at 456-7278 or send her an email at pback@hawaiiantel.net.
In addition to the Walmart stores in Hilo and Kona, these other Big Isle locations also will accept donations of the items from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday: Big Island Vision Center, Suite 1, 899 Ululani St., in Hilo; Choice Mart-Captain Cook at 82-6066 Mamalohoa Highway; KTA Super Stores at 50 E. Puainako St. in Hilo, 74-5594 Palani Road in Kailua-Kona and 78-6831 Alii Drive in the Keauhou Shopping Center, and at Longs Drugs-Pahoa at 15-1454 Kahakai Blvd.
Lions clubs worldwide will be performing community service projects as part of the Lions In Sight initiative to raise public awareness of the vital role Lions clubs play in their communities.