Lions, Longs Team Up For Eyeglasses Drive

Lions clubs across Oahu are conducting a collection drive for used eyeglasses from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at selected stores, including three Windward Longs Drugs stores – Kailua Town Center, Windward City Shopping Center and Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center.

“We’ve been able to ship out more than 22,000 pairs of used eyeglasses so far this year,” said Alice Kudo, chairwoman of the statewide drive. “A medical team just asked the Lions for glasses to be taken to Tacloban, the city that was recently hard hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan.”

The drive is part of Hawaii Lions’ “Lions in Sight” initiative where clubs clean, sort, ship and distribute the donated glasses to countries where good vision care is inaccessible or unaffordable. Hearing aids also are welcome.

“The program makes a difference in people’s lives,” added Kahaluu Lions member Bob Putes. “It can help a child read, an adult succeed in his job, and a senior maintain his or her independence.”

For more information, call Kudo at 456-7278.