SUFFOLK LIONS AND LENSCRAFTERS
PARTNER TO HELP THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
By PATRICK MITCHELL
The Central Islip Lions Club recently donated over 600 pairs of eyeglasses to the Bay ShoreLenscrafters located at 1701 Sunrise Highway N22 Bay Shore, NY. These eyeglasses were donated to the Central Islip Lions Club by collections made at the Post Office, Citibank, and Wal-Mart all located in the Central Islip community. Lions Clubs International has been working with Luxottica Retail (Lenscrafters Parent Company) since 1988 to collect used eyewear to hand deliver to those needing lenses in developing countries.
Lions Club International is the World’s Largest Service Club Organization with approximately 45,000 Clubs in 205 Countries and geographic areas. The Suffolk Lions have a Gift of Sight Committee that is working with Lenscrafters to increase the numbers of lenses that are delivered internationally.
Since 1991, the Gift of Sight Foundation has worked in partnership with Lions Clubs Members around the world to perform optical missions. Lions Clubs prepare clinic sites, provide recipients and arrange team accommodations, translators and equipment shipping. This alliance has created over 115 missions, delivering the Gift of Sight to more than 2 million people in need around the world.
Used eyewear collection is available at Luxottica Retail Stores under the auspices of the One Sight Community Eye Care Program which includes Lenscrafters, Pearle Vision, Target Optical and Sears Optical. Any questions or concerns regarding eyeglass donations can be directed to Howard Hockney General Manager of the Bay Shore Lenscrafters at (631) 969-9544.
If interested in joining a Lions Club to help address vision and hearing issues in your community please contact Lion District Governor Paul Wernersbach at 1-516-380-3575, Lion Gary Feuer Gift of Sight Co-Chair at (631) 428-4604 or PDG Patrick Mitchell Gift of Sight Co-Chair at (631) 363-6412 or e-mail at pfm225@optonline.net
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