The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Thousands of pairs of glasses have been donated to charity by people around Spalding and the latest batch has been sent for sorting.
Over 13 or 14 years, Spalding Lions have collected a total of 76,836 pairs of spectacles which are taken to a central point in Chichester.
John Steel, a Spalding Lion, has taken the latest eight boxes recently.
All the donations are sorted before being sent for grading and distribution by Medico France in Le Havre.
Glasses are also sent directly to various organisations running eye clinics including in Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nigeria and Nepal.
Scrap metal salvaged from the broken and unsuitable spectacles help to raise funds for eye-related charities both in the UK and overseas.
Volunteers from the Unite for Sight charity are also supplied with glasses to take with them on missions to countries around the world.
The recycling project is supported by Lions clubs across the country and they are invited to nominate projects in their area. The Spalding Lions have recently assisted a local person as a result.
Spectacles can be taken to Spalding points at: Johnson Hospital, Munro Medical Centre, Beechfield Medical Centre, Molsom Optician, Vision Express and Eye Care Centre or to Donington’s Clarke Family Eyecare, Gosberton Medical Centre, Pinchbeck Pharmacy, Moulton Surgery and Holbeach Health Centre.
