Fairfield Lions Club recycles used eyeglasses and hearing aids

As spring cleaning gets under way, the Fairfield Lions are asking people to look through dresser drawers and closets for used eyeglasses and hearing aids to donate to the Lions Recycle For Sight program.

On Saturday, April 9, the Fairfield Lions Club will be collecting used prescription eyeglasses, prescription and non-prescription sunglasses, and used hearing aids as part of a unique recycling program. The collected items will be cleaned and prepared for distribution in developing countries where eye care and hearing care is often unaffordable and inaccessible.

“We need everyone to donate their used eyeglasses,” said Dorian Atwood, president of Fairfield Lions Club. “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. In addition, hearing impairment and deafness are serious disabilities that can result in learning difficulties for children and decreased employment opportunities for adults. The care necessary to prevent hearing loss and to purchase hearing aids can be expensive.”

The donated glasses will be shipped to a regional Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center where they will be cleaned, categorized by prescription, and prepared for distribution by Lions and other groups.

The donated hearing aids will be shipped to a regional Lions Hearing Aid Recycling Center where many will be refurbished for a recipient in need. Other aids will be distributed to teams of hearing care professionals and other volunteers for use during health care missions in developing nations.

To donate used glasses (including sunglasses and reading glasses) and hearing aids, bring them to Fairfield Hy-Vee on Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. You can also place them in the specially marked Lions Recycle For Sight collection boxes located at Wolfe Eye Clinic, Axis Visions Care (formerly Eyeowa Optical), or Fairfield Dental Clinic any time throughout the year.

Many local churches also have collection boxes. Please carefully wrap hearing aids and glasses to prevent damage.

For more information or to get involved with the Fairfield Lions Club, please contact Dorian Atwood (dorianatwood@gmail.com) at 641-919-9423.