You have been using your eyeglasses for a very long time, so replacing or donating them might be your next thought. But have you ever thought about where exactly you should donate your eyeglasses? Well, with several thoughts entering your mind, staying confused is normal.
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According to research by the World Health Organization, more than 2 billion people worldwide need eyeglasses because they do not have them for some reason. For all those of you who do not know, not having eyeglasses is one of the health crises that is taken for granted by people.
If you are someone who has a pair of eyeglass and does not wants to use them anymore, now is the time to help others. Donate old glasses and make a difference in someone’s life as they might be suffering from eye disease. We bet you are not only helping someone but also saving the environment from pollution.
With that said, let us now learn everything about how to donate old eyeglasses and more.
What can I do with old glasses?
You probably have a pair of old eyeglasses and now constantly thinking about “what can I do with old glasses” leaves you in a confusing situation. Well, there is nothing to worry about because we have got you covered. There are several places in the United States where you can easily donate your glasses. Yes, you are reading this right.
Below mentioned are the best fifteen places to donate old glasses. Check them out and see which option is suitable for you. Nonetheless, all of them will be useful, so you won’t be confused between the options we have mentioned. Therefore, without any further ado, let us get started.
1. A local charity is a good option
Now that you are bored with the old eyeglasses and have decided to purchase a new one, this is when you can properly use the old pair. How about you donate old glasses to charity?
Donate old glasses to charity if you have a tight schedule and cannot travel for the donation. This is how you are not only saving your time but also helping the needy.
You can search the internet for “local charities” and see which one is nearest to you. Contact them and discuss the matter or visit them in person. Neither do you have to travel far, and you are also helping someone who cannot afford to buy an eyeglass and has long wanted them same.
2. The Salvation Army
Salvation Army is the second option you can consider. Several people are not aware of the fact that the Salvation Army accepts clothes as not only a donation but also eyeglasses.
If you donate old glasses to the Salvation Army, ensure they are neat and clean. In addition to this, it is your responsibility to make sure that they are not damaged whatsoever.
If the Salvation Army finds out the glasses are not in the proper condition, they will not accept the donation. This is because the Salvation Army officials take pride in selling things they acquire in their thrift store.
One can search for a Salvation Army over the internet. By any chance, they do not serve in your location; what you can do is fix an appointment with them. Some members from the Salvation Army will visit you and collect the donation from your house.
3.Lions Club International
The third option one can take into account to donate old glasses is Lions Club International. Lions Club International is a community of volunteers for those who do not know. These volunteers take pride in engaging in a plethora of activities in terms of charity.
The Lions Club International also has several eyeglass recycling centers. These centers are present in several different locations worldwide. So many people do not know that the United States of America alone has seven LCIs in total.
The staff members of Lions Club International make sure that all the usable glasses are collected. Once this is done, they will ensure that the nearest recycling centers receive them. Further, the glasses are cleaned correctly and sent to needy people.
Lions Club International also sends eyeglasses to different eye centers and sellers, with their main offices in Dallas, Chicago, Illinois, New York, etc. The glasses can be both used for reading and wearing.
4. America’s Best
To donate old glasses, another option one can consider America’s Best partners with Lions Club International. What happens is a donor can efficiently distribute the glasses to someone who is in need.
Take your glasses with you and put them in donation boxes across the United States. The needy can pick them up from the donation boxes and let the staff members know.
Apart from old glasses, this is one reliable company that also collects eyeglass frames that are either old or unused. Various charitable organizations get in touch with them and work to take them to people who need them.
5.Walmart
Helping people live better is the motive of Walmart. Henceforth, several Walmart Vision Settings accept donations when it comes to eyeglasses. So if you want to donate old glasses, Walmart is an option that is not only reliable but also convenient.
As a responsible donor, you must ensure that the glasses you want to donate are in good condition. In addition to this, keep in mind that they should be adequately packed to avoid any unwanted damage.
Once the package is ready, visit Walmart and donate. Apart from this, one can always converse with Walmart regarding donations. An appointment can be fixed, and the donation can be made accordingly.
6. David Kind
I was wondering where to donate old glasses. David Kind has got your back. So many people are not aware that David Kind distributes eyeglasses, both without and with a prescription.
David Kind also takes pride in offering a program. This one is designed keeping in mind the customers’ requirements. They can exchange the old pair of glasses and quickly save $50 on a new pair. After being processed by prescription, the contributed eyewear is delivered to a person poor and needy.
Unfortunately, the deal is now only valid for one person per household, according to the terms and conditions on their homepage. Additionally, the quality of the donated glasses should be resold for $89 or more.
7. Respectable
This is a charity that helps people who need eyeglasses. The team members of Respectable make sure that all the spare and donated eyeglasses pictures are uploaded on their website.
Any individual needing an eyeglass can log in to the website and see which one is suitable for them. The procedure is super fast and convenient. Some basic browsing over the internet is needed, though.
To get in touch with the team members of Respectable to donate old glasses, you have to drop the package at their location. The team members will collect it from you and then ensure that anyone who needs it can quickly obtain it.
8. Lens Crafters
How many of you are aware of Lens Crafters? Well, if you are new to this name, we will help you understand it.
Lens Crafters, principally an optical distributor, gladly welcomes submissions of softly used prescribed and non-prescription spectacles. They deliver contributed eyewear to individuals with visual impairments across the globe in collaboration with OneSight.
Along with providing spectacles, they also run sight centers wherein voluntary professionals provide needy individuals with complementary annual checkups and counseling. Additionally, people can purchase custom eyeglasses right there and then.
Lens Crafter is your best bet if you wish to donate old glasses without any further ado. They are not only reliable but are working wonders for poor people in the United States and nearby locations.
9.OneSight
For more than thirty years, OneSight has been helping people with eye care crises. They have helped people from forty-six countries get a clear vision and ensured that the one in need of eyeglasses gets a suitable pair.
OneSight is a company that happily accepts an old pair of eyeglasses. But the twist here is they only distribute a new pair of glasses to anyone who needs them. All the donations are distributed to Lions Club Organizations to help them with their respective projects.
If you wish to donate old glasses, get in touch with the experts at OneSight and do so. They will be more than happy to accept your donation.
10. Goodwill
How many of you know what precisely Goodwill does? You might have donated clothes there if you reside in the United States. But were you even aware of the fact that they also accept eyeglasses?
The next time you think it is time to purchase a new pair of eyeglasses, donate old glasses at the Goodwill store. It is better to help the poor and needy with them instead of damaging or throwing them away.
The Goodwill store not only accepts eyecare donations but also collaborates with other centers so that the glasses reach the right people.
11. Eyes of Hope
Another option that one can take into consideration for donating old glasses is the Eyes of Hope. This project was introduced by VSP Global a long time back. Their only motive is to deliver eye care to the needy.
The company happily accepts eyeglasses as donations. In addition, they deliver it to people who need it all around the world. In addition, Eyes of Hope also delivers eyeglasses to eye care stores and settings worldwide.
Apart from eyeglasses, Eyes of Hope also takes pride in accepting eye lenses. Therefore, if you are someone who wants to donate eye lenses, too, getting in touch with Eyes of Hope is the right thing to do.
12.The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is a charitable organization that distributes the obtained eyeglasses worldwide. From reading glasses to sunglasses, the Lighthouse accepts them all. In addition to this, the organization also accepts hearing aids.
If you are someone who wants to donate hearing equipment and eyeglasses, get in touch with the Lighthouse without any further delay. Pack the glasses, and you can quickly drop them off at the Lighthouse organization. They will reach the needy in no time.
13. A friend
“A friend in need is a friend indeed.” Therefore, if you think that any of your friends need an eyeglass and is not able to buy or have one due to some reason, now is the time when you can help them.
Maybe you can gift them an eyeglass or give them one as a token of love. This way, you are not only helping your friend but are also telling them how much they mean to you.
14. Your grandparents
We all love our grandparents, don’t we? They are people who will fulfill all your requirements but will never ask for anything in return. As they age, their vision gets weak with age.
Now is when you can either gift them a new pair of eyeglasses or consider giving the old ones to them. We bet they will love to see how much they care for them. And their eyesight getting better with those eyeglasses is a cherry on the cake.
15. The people on the streets
The poor people on the streets live tough life. Your donation might make a difference to them. If you are considering donating old glasses, giving them might work wonders.
See if there are any poor or needy at the streets, and gift them an eyeglass or give them one as a token of love. We bet they will make the best use of it and will be highly grateful for the same.
Now that you know where you can donate old glasses, it is time to learn about the tips that should be followed. Therefore, let us dive in.
Tips to consider when donating eyeglasses
Since you have decided to donate old glasses, it is time that you keep in mind some simple tips. These tips will allow you to make a successful donation and avoid the unwanted hassle.
Pack your donation carefully
Now that you have decided to donate old glasses, it becomes your responsibility to pack them correctly. This will avoid any damage or hassle. Because you are donating, you must keep the item in the proper condition.
If the item is damaged, there is no point in donating it. The donation is a mere waste because nobody will be able to use the eyeglasses.
Never donate damaged or broken eyeglasses.
Always donate items that can be used by someone who is in need. If you donate something not in the prop, er condition or cannot be used, the donation is a big waste.
Several donation centers accept items. But if you donate something broken or damaged, you are simply adding more work for the staff members. Therefore, avoid doing that.
The Last Words
Now that you know how to donate old glasses, it is time for some execution. We hope the list of donation centers mentioned in this article will help you. Select any of the options and make your donation today.
By donating, you are making a difference in someone’s life for the good. Instead of throwing your eyeglasses, think about donating them. You never know if someone’s eyes improve or they gain better vision.
