Specsavers Opticas collects nearly 4,500 pairs of glasses for charity and helps the world to see

Specsavers Opticas collects nearly 4,500 pairs of glasses for charity and helps the world to see

On 10^th October Specsavers Opticas launched a campaign to collect 3,000 pairs of unwanted glasses in just three months to be given to the Lions Club International and distributed to those in need. This campaign strove to give the gift of sight to some of the world’s poorest people and the response has been fantastic. 4,436 pairs of glasses have been donated over the three month campaign across all eight stores, well over the target!

José Ángel Moral-Tajadura, Specsavers Opticas’ Business Development Manager commented “We would like to say a huge thank you to all the generous people, the media and local organizations who have helped support the campaign and donated their unwanted glasses. Every pair will make a huge difference to someone’s life.”

The glasses donated during the campaign will be sent to the Lions Club’s recycling plant in Alicante where they are first separated into single vision, bifocals, varifocals and sunglasses. They are then graded according to prescription strength, cleaned and boxed for distribution.

Lions Club representatives are located across many developing countries including Africa and India. They test the eyes of locals and send requests for the required prescription glasses onto the fulfilment plant. Lions Club International collects around 70,000 pairs of glasses to be re-dispensed every year, with each one being donated and hand selected for specific people in need.

Mariana Alvarez Racero, President of Lions Club Marbella said: “On behalf of Lions Club Marbella, I would like to acknowledge Specsavers Opticas’ cooperation and the extra interest it has given to this ongoing Lions Club campaign. Also our thanks to all those who have donated their used glasses at the collection box placed in all Specsavers Opticas stores.”

Patricia Maxwell, President Mijas La Cala Lions Club added: “We have a collection box in our Charity shop and have been sending glasses to our recycling centre in Alicante for many years. In the 3 months that Specsavers at Fuengirola collected glasses for us, it quadrupled the amount we would have collected in that period. These glasses will be recycled and distributed all over the world to people who do not have the facilities or funds for glasses.  Thank you.”

Specsavers Opticas will continue to have a strong relationship with the Lions Club and glasses can be donated at any of their eight stores on the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Mallorca. To find your nearest store visit www.specsavers.es