where to donate glasses frames

by Jazmin McKenzie 7 min read

You can easily donate your old reading glasses at your local LensCrafters, Target Optical, or Pearle Vision locations. From there, volunteers for OneSight or other organizations can collect your donated glasses. And then take them to their ‘old glasses recycle’ processing center. You can also bring your glasses to Goodwill.

Full Answer

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.

Where can I donate eyeglasses near me?

There are a few ways in which you can donate eyeglasses. Walmart Vision Centers: Lions Clubs International has a partnership with the Walmart Corporation. You can deposit your eyeglasses at any participating Walmart Vision Center. Local Lions clubs: Some local Lions clubs collect eyeglasses.

Where is the best place to donate glasses?

Walmart and Sam's Club— Walmart Vision Centers partners with the Lions Club to collect eyewear. Look for the blue and white Lions Club donation box, or ask your local Walmart if it accepts donations. Find a vision center near you here. Certain optical chains also accept donations.

What do you do with old or broken eyeglass frames?

Recycle. If you have a pair of frames that are broken beyond repair, don't just toss them in the trash! Most common materials found in frames qualify as recyclables. If you're getting new lenses along with your frames, the lenses are also recyclable.

Does Costco take old glasses?

Does Costco Take Old Eyeglasses? Yes, Costco accepts used eyeglasses from their members. In addition, Costco has teamed up with various partners to donate glasses.

Where can I donate contact lenses near me?

Currently there are several charitable organizations that accept donations of unused contacts. These include (but are not limited to) New Eyes for the Needy (neweyesfortheneedy.org), MADRE (madre.org), Goodwill (goodwill.org), and the Lions Club (lionsclub.org).

Can I bring my own frames to America's best?

Customers can purchase our Product Protection Plan, which protects your eyeglass frames and lenses for one year for a low additional cost. If your frames break or your lenses become excessively scratched during the year, bring them to your local America's Best store so we can replace them (only 1 replacement allowed).

What can I do with unused contacts?

Recycle your unused, unexpired and unopened contact lenses by donating them to places like Goodwill or the non-profit organization DonateContacts. While many of Goodwill facilities accept unused contact lenses and used glasses, be sure to call the location nearest to you to double-check.

Where can I send my old glasses UK?

You can donate them at many branches of Vision Express, Specsavers and Boots Opticians as well as many independant opticians. Onesight accepts used and broken glasses and transfers them for responsible recycling. Lions Clubs around the UK collect spectacles for reuse via Chichester Lions.

Should I throw away old glasses?

Do not throw away your old eyeglasses. Beyond the fact that glass and plastic pollute the planet, someone else in need could use your old glasses. There are many options for getting rid of old eyeglasses, and throwing them in the garbage can should not be one of them.

Do Vision Express recycle glasses?

Take your glasses to your optician Most opticians have a glasses recycling box for the donation of used spectacles. For example, Specsavers, Vision Express, and Boots Opticians — alongside many independent opticians — work with charities that provide optical training and sight care for people in developing countries.

Can glasses be recycled?

Glasses are generally made from plastic type materials, including acetate, as well as metals, such as stainless steel, titanium and nickel silver. Most glasses are not biodegradable and cannot be recycled unless in the right conditions. Recycling glasses is not usually an option through local authority collections.

Are Boots taking old glasses?

Most opticians have a glasses recycling box for the donation of used spectacles. For example, Specsavers, Vision Express, and Boots Opticians — alongside many independent opticians — work with charities that provide optical training and sight care for people in developing countries.

Where can I donate eyeglasses in Richmond VA?

Lions Recycle for Sight ProgramRichmond Eye Associates460023060Am. Best Contacts & Glasses700023230West End Eye Care561723230Goodwill620223230Goodwill16502323328 more rows

Where can I donate old glasses in Maryland?

Call the Lion's Club organization about glasses donation drop-off boxes in your area. Lion's Club have eyeglass donation boxes set up in eye doctor offices around Maryland.

Where can I donate eyeglasses in Massachusetts?

LensCrafters accepts donated eyeglasses and distributes them to needy individuals. Simply drop the eyeglasses off at any LensCrafters store in Massachusetts. LensCrafters stores are currently located in Cambridge, Boston, Brookline, Medford, Saugus, Braintree and Stoneham, Massachusetts.

Is It Safe to Donate Your Glasses?

In short, yes, it’s safe to donate glasses you no longer use or need. Assuming you do not have a contagious disease and that you wipe down your glasses thoroughly with rubbing alcohol before you donate them, there are no health issues with this kind of donation

What is Lenscrafters eyewear?

LensCrafters: This is an international nonprescription and prescription eyeglass retailer that also collects gently used eyewear in its many stores countrywide . Find your local store here.

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.

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 is a respectacle?

ReSpectacle: This small nonprofit collects and donates gently used eyeglasses in their many drop-off locations or sent in the mail.

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 people have vision impairments?

There are many people across the globe who need vision care and do not have access to it, including prescriptions glasses. According to the WHO, 2.2 billion people are diagnosed with different vision impairments that affect their independence, mental health, and cognition. Unfortunately, some of them cannot afford eyeglasses to correct their impairment.

How Can I Donate My Eyeglasses for a Good Cause?

Donating your eyeglasses is easier than you may think. Many organizations have convenient recycling centers, dropboxes, and other ways to donate. All you have to do is get your used glasses to the right place.

Why Should I Donate My Old Glasses?

Donating your glasses is a great way to give back to your community. Even more so, it can change lives.

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 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 does an eyeglass company do with used glasses?

The organizations that accept used eyeglasses will inspect them to make sure they are not damaged or broken. They will also determine the exact prescription and find a match for each pair — which could be someone as close as your next-door neighbor, or someone as far as a country thousands of miles away.

Why do people donate eyewear?

Eyewear donations help your local community members and can even stretch as far as helping someone thousands of miles away to see the world around them clearly for the first time.

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.

What to do with old eyeglasses?

So if you have a pair of still functional old eyeglasses lying around in your closet, don’t throw them away. Donate them instead. You’ll never know whose life you’ll change with those.

Why do people wear glasses?

For these people, a pair of eyeglasses is more than just a tool to see better. It can also be their lifeline. A woman who does crafts may lose her livelihood if she can’t see clearly. While a visually-impaired student with no access to proper eyewear may end up quitting school altogether.

How many people need glasses but don't have access to them?

According to researchers, there are over a billion people around the world who need eyeglasses but don’t have access to them. At this scale, it’s one of the biggest health crises you’ve never heard of.

How many countries does OneSight serve?

For more than 30 years, OneSight has stayed true to its commitment to eliminating the global vision care crisis. It has helped people from 46 countries and has established permanent vision centers around the world.

What is the Eyes of Hope project?

Launched by VSP Global, the Eyes of Hope Project aims to deliver eye care to those who need it the most. Aside from mobile clinics, they are also collecting and distributing used eyeglasses around the world. Some of their beneficiaries include poor communities and victims of natural and manmade disasters.

What is LCI in the US?

LCI is a worldwide community of volunteers engaged in various charitable activities. They also have eyeglass recycling centers in various locations around the world. Seven of them are in the US. Their volunteers collect old but usable glasses and ship them to the nearest eyeglass recycling centers. There they are cleaned and carefully packaged before being sent to eyeglass-dispensing missions.

Does Goodwill accept eyewear donations?

But did you know you can donate used eyeglasses too? Yes, Goodwill accepts eyewear donations and matches them with low-income members of the community who needs them. They also partner with other charitable organizations to distribute the donated eyeglasses.

Why do people donate glasses?

Donating glasses may help people regain their independence and improve the quality of their lives.

Who is Lenscrafters partnership?

LensCrafters has a partnership with OneSight, an organization that provides vision care to those who could not otherwise access it worldwide. LensCrafters and OneSight have donated eyeglasses and provided low-cost vision care since 1988 and have helped more than 10 million people.

What is Lenscrafters eyewear?

LensCrafters is an international retailer of prescription and nonprescription eyewear. It accepts donations of gently used glasses at its many stores throughout the U.S.

How many people have near vision impairment?

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 2.2 billion people globally have near or distance vision impairment, and that this figure is higher in low- or middle-income countries than in high-income countries.

Can Eyes of Hope accept damaged glasses?

Eyes of Hope cannot accept damaged eyewear or contact lenses. To donate, a person should contact their local VSP sales team and request a donation box, then display it somewhere public. Eyes of Hope provides a prepaid shipping label, and a person returns the box when it is full. LEARN MORE.

Do charities accept glasses?

Several charities accept glasses that are in good condition. These charities then supply glasses to people in need nationally and globally.

Can a non-Hispanic person afford glasses?

A 2012 study highlights that, even in the United States, many people cannot afford eyeglasses. The researchers found that 16% of non-Hispanic white people, 15.3% of non-Hispanic African American people, and 26.7% of Hispanic people in the country were unable to pay for the glasses that they need.

What is new eyes?

New Eyes gathers old glasses and disperses them to clingy people in developing nations worldwide. All you need to do is mail your eyewear to their workplaces — make sure to read the recycling details on their website and following their shipping guidelines.

What do Lions Clubs do with old glasses?

Lions Clubs International volunteers collect old spectacles, checking out glasses and sunglasses. They tidy and repair the used eyeglasses, which is then dispersed to individuals who cannot afford to purchase their own.

Where does Scot Morris go on a mission?

Each year Dr. Scot Morris goes with his family to Juarez, Mexico on a mission journey. Usually they assist bad families there by building houses, however this year they’re taking the work a step even more.

Where Can You Donate Eyeglasses?

A pair of eyeglasses for someone in need is more than just an accessory or tool to see more clearly; it can be a life-changing difference. For example, a visually-impaired college student with no access to quality glasses may end up quitting school, or an artist may give up on her dream because she can’t see the details in her work.

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.

What is a Gently Used Prescription?

Gently used prescription glasses and sunglasses are distributed to people worldwide. The frames and lenses are fixed and cleaned, then they are labeled with the right prescription. When people who are members of Lions Club have eye screenings, they are fitted with the correct prescription, ultimately improving their quality of life.

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.

How many people need glasses but don't have them?

Instead of tossing them in the garbage, donate them to people in need. According to one research study, more than 1 billion people worldwide need glasses but don’t have them for numerous reasons.

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.

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