By Linda Scott, Fort Erie Lions Club, June 23, 2022, VOL. 3 ISSUE 22
In June, Lions Clubs around the world celebrate Helen Keller, who was born June 27th, 1880, and died June 1st, 1968. In 1925 Helen Keller, in her role as ambassador for the newly formed American Foundation for the Blind, addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio where she famously asked Lions members to become her “Knights of the Blind.”
I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness? Helen Keller, 1925 Cedar Point, Ohio
Before the convention was over, the Lions association unreservedly dedicated itself to making Keller’s dream a reality. Since that time, Lions Clubs International has made vision initiations a mainstay of Lions Clubs around the world and prescription eyeglass recycling their touchstone.
Why recycle your prescription eyeglasses?
An estimated 120 million people (according to WHO statistics) 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.
Prescription eyeglasses, including prescription sunglasses, collected here in Fort Erie are sent to the Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (CLERC) in Calgary, Alberta where trained volunteers sort, clean and determine the prescription strengths of the glasses in preparation for shipment to eyeglass dispensing missions. 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.
The Fort Erie Lions are grateful for our partners in the community who kindly display our prescription eyeglass collection boxes. Your donations make a difference. Please donate your used prescription eyeglasses at one of the drop-off boxes located with our community partners listed here:
- 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.
For more information on Lions prescription eyeglass and hearing aid recycling, visit www.FortErieLions.com.
