Tullamore Lions Club recycle over 4,000 unwanted spectacles for Third World

TULAMORE Lions Club, this week, recycled over 4,000 pairs of unwanted spectacles to the Third World, helping people with poor eyesight who cannot afford to purchase spectacles.

This follows over 3,000 pairs donated in 2024

Tullamore Lions Club member and Project lead, Brian Cloonan explained that the unwanted spectacles project, part of the Lions International Recycle for Sight Project is very successful locally with many people coming forward with numbers of unwanted spectacles.

“There has been a huge response which has now been expanded with schools, businesses and retail outlets in the town and environs organising collection points and displaying our clearly marked receptables, explained Brian.

“The response has been remarkable. People are so please to donate something they have at home to such a good use,” he added.

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To date all opticians and most pharmacies in the town are hosting the unwanted glasses receptables.

When collected by Tullamore Lions Club, the spectacles are then dispatched via DPD couriers to -Medico Lions Clubs de France in La Harve – the international humanitarian are of the Lions Clubs in France.

“In La Harve the spectacles that are in perfect condition, are cleaned, calibrated, identified and bagged so that missionary doctors can meet the needs of patients when examined,” explained Brian.

The imperfect glasses are repaired and follow the same procedure.

Worldwide the International Lions Project has accepted over 3 million pairs of unwanted glasses,

For children, clear vision means a better education, healthier development and a better quality of life. For adults it means greater employment opportunities.

Anybody wishing to donate unwanted spectacles can do so by dropping them into any optician or Cloonan’s Hardware, William Street.

Any business, school, or retail outlet that like to host a receptable on their premises may contact 057 9321468. (daytime) or any member of Tullamore Lions club.

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