Have an old pair of eyeglasses? Kaua‘i Lions are collecting for people in need

Eyeglasses can change lives: When provided with proper lenses, people with impaired vision are able to work, play, read and see their loved ones.

Members of the service organization Lions Clubs International will be collecting used eyeglasses from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at five locations on Kaua‘i during a statewide drive to improve the vision of people around the world.

Members of the six Lions clubs based on the Garden Isle will don distinctive yellow vests to accept prescription lenses and supermarket readers at the Kong Lung Market Center in Kīlauea, the Big Save supermarket in Kapa‘a, the Walmart in Līhu‘e, the Longs pharmacy in Līhu‘e and the Big Save supermarket in ʻEleʻele.

“They appreciate it so much,” said Helena Cooney, who organized this year’s effort. “The thank-yous that come back: It’s just amazing.”

Cooney belongs to the East Kaua‘i Lions club. Eyeglasses collected by her group will travel thousands of miles to reach a distribution network in the Philippines.

“They just don’t have many resources for new glasses there, as far as money goes,” Cooney said.

In past years, the Lions clubs of Kaua‘i have collected several thousand pairs of glasses during their annual January drive.

Across the globe, the vision of 500 million people easily could be improved through recycled eyeglasses, according to Lions Clubs International. The service organization distributes to places including Afghanistan, Cambodia and Sāmoa.

In Hawai‘i, eyeglasses not sent to a specific country will be shipped to a center in California, where they will be processed and distributed to areas in need.

Lions Clubs International was founded as the Association of Lions Clubs in 1917. It dedicated itself to vision-related work in 1925, following an address delivered by Helen Keller, the well-known disability rights advocate who could not see or hear since she was 19 months old. Lions Clubs International now counts 1.4 million members worldwide.

For more information contact Helena Cooney at 808-639-3636 or helenacooney808@gmail.com.