LAUNCESTON Lions Club has praised the community for their generosity after thousands of unwanted glasses were donated to charity.

Over the years, Launceston’s Lions Club has held an unwanted glasses amnesty, collecting old, broken or no-longer needed pairs of spectacles from local residents. The programme hopes to support those less fortunate across the world gain access to much needed vision assistance.

Following their most recent run, the club has thanked locals for their support, as well as thanking local businesses such as, Specsavers, Vision Express, Launceston Medical Centre and the Rotary Shop for having a bin for glasses to be deposited in.

As a result of the community’s generosity, the club was able to deliver 6,580 pairs to the national headquarters in Birmingham.

A spokesperson from the club said: “These will be sent to Lions in France, where they are sent to Lions in Europe, India, Africa and Asia, where they are graded by opticians and given to those in need at Lions organised ‘Eye Camps’.

“These camps also perform eye surgeries and then sun glasses are given to protect against bright sunlight. So non-prescription sunglasses are very welcome.

“Some reading glasses are also sent to Ukraine where they are distributed by opticians there.

“So please continue to donate unwanted spectacles and change someone’s life.

“Imagine if you could help a child to read; an adult to succeed in his job and enable an older person to maintain their independence. So, you are providing a community with more opportunities to grow and thrive.”

The club also collects hearing aids, where they are distributed by audiologists at these camps.

Hearing aid button batteries are collected at Launceston Hospital and Specsavers and are sent to a Lion in Sussex, who extracts the silver which raises money for a sight camera, which tests children for sight defects.