Do you have old glasses or sunglasses just laying around your home? Don't throw them out – donate them to the Osakis Lions Club.
For 80 years, Lions clubs have been collecting old unwanted eyeglasses (frames with lenses) for redistribution to countries where people are unable to afford new glasses. Minnesota Lions alone have collected more than 10 million pairs of eyeglasses.
The glasses are taken to Minnesota Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center in Sauk Rapids, according to Mark Reicks, Osakis Lions Club president. From there, they are sent to a regional center where they are cleaned, repaired and sorted by prescription.
Then the glasses are distributed to people all over the world who are in need of free glasses and improved vision, Reicks said.
The Osakis Lions Club now has five convenient locations where you can drop off your old glasses: Osakis Medical Center, First National Bank of Osakis, Galleon Wellness Center, Thrifty White Drug of Osakis and the Osakis VFW.
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It doesn't matter if the glasses are old, need to be repaired, or have minor scratches. They will be cleaned and repaired, said Reicks. Sunglasses and hearing aids are also accepted.
"Please take a few minutes to find your old, unused glasses and drop them off in one of the collection boxes," Reicks said. "Thank you for your donation."
For more information about the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, go to the website: https://www.mnlionsvisionfoundation.org/
To learn about the Minnesota Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center, visit their Facebook page or go to this website: https://mnlerc.org/
