When Boy Scouts Troop committee leader Kris Cattau approached the Monroeville Lions about possible service projects, Mary Raynak knew just how they could help.  Raynak has been a member of the Monroeville Lions Club for 6 years, and is the eyeglass recycling program chairperson.  “One of our service projects is sorting, cleaning and packing donated, used eyeglasses for the needy,” Raynak said. “We get together usually every three or four months … It is an ongoing project.”

After collecting all of the glasses from drop off sites, they are sorted by readers, prescriptions, sunglasses and prescription sunglasses. The glasses are cleaned and dried, and then repackaged for the Cranberry-based nonprofit Mission Vision to pick up. Glasses are distributed locally, nationally and internationally.

The Lions and Boy Scouts Troop 184 worked together for the first time in early March, and it was such a successthat two groups planned another event for March 22 at PitCare Community Center in Pitcairn to prep 900 pairs of glasses.

Monroeville Lions began the recycling program in August 2022. To date, they have donated 7,374 pairs of eyeglasses.

“The Lions welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the Boy Scouts Troop 184,” President Michele Gutman said. “It has been a great experience.”   The Boy Scouts complete community service projects for rank, service hours and merit badges.

“We really focus on community,” Cattau said. “The Boy Scouts learn about their community and good citizenship.”   “The Scouts first learn about nonprofit organizations and then do research on nonprofits in the community,” Cattau said. “Then they pick a charitable organization as a service project.”

According to Cattau and Assistant Scoutmaster Andrew McWhinney – whose sons Wyatt and Maxwell volunteered – the collaboration has been a positive experience for the troop.  The Lions serve many causes, but their emphasis is on serving the visually impaired. This is done year-round through eyeglass recycling, broom sales and seals, as well as the annual Run4Sight 4K in July and Golf Outing in August.

“One hundred percent of all profits we collect go to our charities,” said Lions member David Zimmer.  This year, they are set to donate more than $20,000 when the fiscal year ends in June.

Donations are dispersed among local food banks, college scholarships for Gateway and Plum students, Western Pennsylvania Lions Hearing Foundation, VisAbility Pittsburgh and Lions Diabetes Board of Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties.

Used Eyeglasses and Hearing Aids:   Year round, we have a collection box just inside the main entrance of the Monroeville Library.   We also collect used Hearing Aids in the same container. There are also drop-off boxes at the Plum Community Center, UPMC Vison on Daugherty Dr,  Jones, Kapp& Joyce, the Monroeville Giant Eagle, and America's Best Eyeglasses.  They can be dropped off at the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings 2nd Saturday in May through  third Saturday in Nov.