how to donate eyeglasses frames

by Jamie Bogisich 9 min read

Where to donate old glasses
  1. Donate your glasses at LensCrafters or Pearle Vision. ...
  2. Look for a Lions Club dropbox. ...
  3. Take your old glasses to Goodwill. ...
  4. Donate eyeglasses by mail. ...
  5. Drop off your glasses at Walmart and Sam's Club vision centers.

Where to donate used glasses locally?

Donate eyeglasses by mail. VSP Vision Care, the largest vision insurer in the United States, allows members to print a free shipping label to send donated glasses to them for free. New Eyes also accepts eyeglasses donations by mail . Drop off your …

Where can I donate eyeglasses?

Nov 30, 2021 · Since you cannot try on frames in person in a store, many of these online companies allow you to return glasses that do not fit you. These glasses may be sent to a charitable organization. For example, Warby Parker has a program you can sign up for, to donate a pair of glasses when you purchase a pair of glasses. When you get a new pair of glasses, …

How to replace eyeglass frames?

Donate your glasses through Goodwill. Does Goodwill accept used prescription eyeglasses as donations? Some locations do! As a service for local nonprofits, select Goodwill stores accept eyewear donations and pass them on to the right places. To find out if your local Goodwill accepts eyeglasses, contact a nearby donation center. Leave your used glasses with …

Where to donate old prescription eye glasses?

Deliver your eyeglasses to a drop off location listed here. Drop off locations are unable to accept printer and toner cartridges. A spreadsheet of drop off locations is available here . Mail your items to the Lions In Sight warehouse at 1404 Lemon Street, Vallejo, CA 94590.

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What can I do with my old glasses?

5 ways you can recycle your old glasses#1 Donate them to a glasses recycling program. ... #2 Give them a new lease on life by selling them online, or gifting to a friend. ... #3 Repair your glasses, or take them to someone who can. ... #4 Replace the lenses on your frames. ... #5 Save them for fancy dress occasions.Feb 6, 2020

Will LensCrafters use my old frames?

Simply drop off your gently used prescription or non-prescription glasses at a LensCrafters location near you and we will gladly recycle and hand-deliver your used eyewear to those in need during a OneSight Global Clinic.

Can I bring my own frames to Eyemart Express?

Depending on the make and condition of the frames, most of our stores can use your existing frame. Please bring the frame into the store so they can be evaluated by our lab techs. Was this article helpful?Mar 5, 2021

Will zenni put lenses in my frames?

As stated earlier, the company offers lenses and frames in many shapes, styles, materials, colors, and sizes— all at an affordable price. Furthermore, scratch-proof lenses, as well as UV protection, are also integrated into the initial cost.Dec 18, 2020

Why do people donate glasses?

Donating Your Glasses Helps Those Who Cannot Afford Lenses or Frames. As someone who wears glasses, you know how expensive they can be. Even when prescription lenses are covered by your vision insurance, finding frames that fit and are affordable can take time and effort. Many people need glasses but cannot afford them, ...

What does Lions Club do for glasses?

Lions Club ensures that glasses are in good repair and gives them to people in need entirely for free. Their website is easy to use, so you can quickly find a glasses drop-off point near you.

How many pairs of glasses does Respectacle have?

ReSpectacle has distributed 20,000 pairs of glasses around the U.S., and 12,000 around the world to 37 countries. You can also use their website to find glasses if you are in need. Vision care providers can refer their clients to ReSpectacle for prescription eyewear.

What is VSP Global?

VSP Global Eyewear Donations: VSP is a large vision insurance provider, but a charitable branch of the company collects used glasses and distributes them around the world. VSP also helps eye doctors from several countries, including the U.S., find eyewear for their patients who need financial help.

Why is it important to see clearly?

Being able to see clearly reduces headaches and eye strain. It also improves mood and betters one’s overall quality of life. Improved vision can have a dramatic effect on someone’s life. If you have pairs of glasses you no longer need, donating them to a charity can help someone else.

Can you recycle prescription glasses?

Most cities do not let you recycle your prescription glasses. Simply throwing them away can feel wasteful. Fortunately, there are numerous charitable organizations, both locally and internationally, that will accept used glasses in good condition and give them to someone in need.

Does Fabulous Finds take glasses?

They will also take items like jewelry or silverware, but these donations are sold at their Fabulous Finds Retail Shop, which helps to fund New Eyes. They do not take non-glasses eye-related items, like contact lenses or glasses cases. They also do not accept visibly worn or damaged glasses.

What eyewear does New Eyes accept?

New Eyes accepts the following used eyewear that is in good to excellent condition: reading glasses, prescription glasses, safety glasses, sunglasses, and children’s glasses.

What is the New Eyes organization?

This charitable organization has been helping improve vision around the world since 1932. Through New Eyes, people in the United States are able to get new glasses. The organization also collects and distributes gently used eyewear for those who are in need overseas.

How many people have OneSight helped?

OneSight. OneSight has helped more than nine million people in 46 different countries by hand-delivering glasses to clinics for those in need. This independent nonprofit only donates new glasses — but you can donate your used glasses, too, and they will send them to other nonprofits such as Lions Club International.

What is Eyes of Hope?

Eyes of Hope. VSP Global, a vision insurer, helps more than two million people around the world receive eye care and eyeglasses at no cost through Eyes of Hope. Eyes of Hope accepts new and gently used eyewear. You can learn more about the donation process on their website.

Who is OneSight partnered with?

OneSight is partnered with these vision care centers, as well as Target Optical and ILORI. When any of these companies receive a donation of eyeglasses, OneSight then delivers them to organizations that accept and distribute used glasses across the world.

Can you donate old glasses?

Old glasses may not be functional for you, but they could be functional for someone else. Instead of throwing away your old glasses, consider making your peace with them by donating them to a good cause. Donating your old eyeglasses and readers could be as simple as dropping them off during a trip for groceries, or even to your local library.

How many glasses does the Lions Club donate?

Lions Club International’s Recycle for Sight Program — The Lions Club donates about 30 million pairs of glasses each year to developing countries, and it’s easy to find their collection boxes in libraries, community centers and other neighborhood locations.

Do eyeglasses get credit?

Since eyeglasses depreciate in value as soon as you start wearing them, you won’t get credit for the original price paid.

Is New Eyes a non profit organization?

New Eyes — This is a great mail-in option if you don’t have any drop-off locations near you. This not-for-profit organization accepts prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses and sunglasses for global distribution through aid organizations and medical missions.

Can you donate old glasses?

If you have old eyeglasses lying around, don’t toss them; donate them instead. It’s estimated that there are about 2.5 billion people around the world who need glasses, but don’t have them, so your used glasses could be used to give sight to someone else.

But Why Donate Old Glasses?

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment, according to a WHO report. These are the people who lack access to basic eye care services.

Wrapping Up

Hope this article answered all your questions, and now you know where to donate old glasses.

Why Should I Donate Eyeglasses?

Glasses might be easier to produce and construct due to technology but this ease doesn’t affect the price. Studies have shown that the price of eyeglasses have continued to rise due to production costs.

7 Places to Donate Eyeglasses in 2022

As I earlier said, there are certain places to donate eyeglasses but there are a few who stand out for different reasons. These ones include:

Conclusion

Donating your eyeglasses will always be profitable than keeping them in a case locked up in an area of your house. You can see that the benefits are tremendous to you and society at large.

How much do glasses increase productivity?

A 2018 study of working men and women in India published in The Lancet Global Health found that wearing glasses increased workers’ productivity by 22%, which in turn helped the workers boost their income.

What is the Lions Club?

The Lions Club is a service organization with more than one million members around the world. One of their missions, Lions Recycle for Sight, helps those in need get the eyecare and eyewear that they desperately need but either can’t afford or don’t have access to. The Lions Club accepts donations of prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, ...

Who is Kristen McDonnell?

Kristen McDonnell is a knitter who loves to share her designs on her Studio Knit YouTube channel. Recently, she was inspired to ditch the yarn when she realized that a couple of pairs of old specs were a blank slate just waiting for her creative touch.

Does the Lions Club accept donations?

The Lions Club accepts donations of prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and readers, although in the United States they’re only able to distribute sunglasses and readers. All other donations help individuals in developing nations. If your neighborhood America’s Best doesn’t have a collection box, you can still help.

How to Donate Eyeglasses

Spring is almost here, and with spring comes spring cleaning. Learn how you can find a new home for the old prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses taking up space in your drawers.

Nationwide Locations That Accept Eyeglasses

Lions Club International’s Recycle for Sight Program — The Lions Club donates about 30 million pairs of glasses each year to developing countries, and it’s easy to find their collection boxes in libraries, community centers and other neighborhood locations.

Online Options for Mail-In Donations

New Eyes — This is a great mail-in option if you don’t have any drop-off locations near you. This not-for-profit organization accepts prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses and sunglasses for global distribution through aid organizations and medical missions.

Tax Tips for Your Eyeglasses Donation

If you’d like to use your eyeglasses donation as a tax deduction, remember these tips:

Why do people donate glasses?

Donating your glasses can benefit the charities or people you give your eyeglasses to and will be a rewarding experience. Knowing you are helping others will make you feel happy and more fulfilled. One study suggests that donating and giving triggers activity in the area of the brain that registers pleasure.

How to clean a pair of eyeglasses before giving them to someone else?

You want to make sure they are in spotless condition before you give them to someone else. Run the frames under warm water. Use dish soap or mild soap and apply it gently to the frames using your fingertips. Rinse the frames. Use a towelette with alcohol to clean the earpieces and nose pads of the frames.

How to clean glasses that are scratched?

Run warm water over the glasses to get rid of dusty particles and other things that might scratch and damage the lenses. Wipe the glasses with a microfiber cloth. Spray the glasses with a cleaning solution (make sure the solution is safe for lenses). If you don’t have a cleaning solution specific for eyewear, you can also use dish soap.

What is a respectacle?

Respectacle uses the power of the internet to spread awareness about donating old glasses to those in need. It is a charity organization that accepts all glasses, including reading glasses, sunglasses, full-frame glasses, bifocals, and others.

What is a LCI?

Lions Club International (LCI) is a well-known organization responsible for collecting eyeglass donations. It also has many recycling centers spread throughout the world, with seven based out of the United States. If you are interested in donating your glasses to LCI, make sure to contact them to learn about their requirements for shipping or sending the glasses.

What do you do if you believe in karma?

If you believe in karma, you probably know that doing good things results in good things happening to you. So donate the stuff you don’t need, starting from your sunglasses or eyeglasses! Your old, used sunglasses that have been collecting dust can improve the lives of others. Many people can’t afford appropriate eye care, ...

How long does it take to clean glasses?

How to clean the lenses. The glasses’ lenses are essential for seeing more clearly. It takes around 20 seconds to clean the lenses, and here is how to do it right. Wash your hands to make sure they are clean and germ-free.

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