Donate old eyeglasses by bringing them or mailing them to an eyewear drop-off center. The Lions Club, OneSight and New Eyes are a few organizations that collect old eyeglasses.
The Lions Club collects prescription and nonprescription glasses and sunglasses for both children and adults. The organization cleans and repairs the old eyewear for distribution to those in developing countries who lack the funds to buy them on their own. Drop used eyeglasses in designated Lions Club collection boxes located in such places as libraries, community centers and optometrists' offices. Alternatively, mail old eyeglasses to: Lions Clubs International Headquarters, Attention: Receiving Department, 300 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523.
OneSight provides eye exams and new eyewear to those in need and accepts donations of old eyewear to support its goals. OneSight collects donated eyeglasses and sends them to a third-party recycler, which pays the organization for the eyeglasses based on weight. LensCrafters, Sears Optical, Sunglass Hut, Target Optical and Pearle Vision accept eyeglass donations that they pass along to OneSight. Send large quantities of used eyeglasses to: Optical Village OneSight Center, 9924 International Blvd., Dock 22, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246.
New Eyes collects old eyeglasses and sends them to the needy in developing countries. Mail old eyeglasses or drop off donations at New Eyes, 549 Millburn Ave., P.O. Box 332, Short Hills, NJ 07078.
