Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center of Northern Virginia 

We can go down the street and buy a new pair in a few hours for about $100.00.  We are very fortunate. For most of the world glasses are so scarce and expensive they are not an option. 
    Children drop out of school because they can't see well enough to read.  Parents who need glasses may lose their jobs.  Grand parents who live with their children become burdens for their families.
    Poor eyesight that is left untreated can cause blindness and force adults into unemployment.  According to reports by the World Health Organization, the vision of one in four people could be improved with a pair of corrected eyeglasses.  This amounts to as many as 500 million people who could easily have improved vision.  It is estimated that one tenth of the people in developing countries need eyeglasses and cannot afford them.
    The Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center of Northern Virginia is a Virginia chartered non-profit, tax exempt foundation organized under the provisions of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
    Its purpose and mission are to meet the demand for quality eyeglasses in areas of need

• Accepting used eyeglasses collected by Lion Clubs, Leo Clubs, and other groups in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and elsewhere.
•  Preparing the used eyeglasses for reuse by sorting, cleaning and sterilizing them and by separating them by prescription.
• <> Donating the recycled eyeglasses to mission teams, both Lion and non-Lion, who hand deliver them to those in need around the world.
•  Supporting Lions sponsored missions such as the Lions of Virginia Area Medical Project with eyeglasses and optical services.
• On occasion, sponsoring independent missions to bring optical services and eyeglasses to needy people within and outside the United States.

Since opening in 1998 the Center has sent over 400,000 pair of glasses around the world.  Over 400,000 people have the chance to see better, children can go to school, adults can go back to work, and all can have a better life.