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action plan, awareness, collection drive, diabetes awareness, eye health, eyeglass recycling center, eyeglasses, glasses, international agency for prevent blindness, inventory, lions pride, make a difference, presentation, screenings, sight, vision, wlf, world health organization
Take a look outside. You’ve probably already noticed the once-green trees have now turned beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange. Aren’t we fortunate to have the ability to observe the gorgeous colors of fall? For those of us who have clear vision or glasses, it’s not uncommon for us to take our sight for granted, but it’s important to remember that not everyone has the same opportunities.
You may be surprised to learn that approximately 1.2 billion people don’t have access to glasses – that amounts to over 3 out of 4 people around the globe. You can help increase the world’s awareness of eye care issues by helping us celebrate World Sight Day on Tuesday, October 11.
2018 is the sixth year of the World Health Organization Action Plan and this year’s call to action is “Eye Care Everywhere.” The International Agency for Prevent Blindness is encouraging all of us to focus on eye care issues, so that everyone, everywhere has access to good eye health.
How can you help? One way is by utilizing one of our most prized resources, the Eyeglass Recycling Center. The Wisconsin Lions Foundation’s Eyeglass Recycling Center (ERC) is one of only 18 worldwide facilities that collects used glasses to share with the world and is located right here on the Wisconsin Lions Foundation Headquarters.
At any given time, the ERC inventory is about 125,000 pairs of glasses. These glasses are then provided without costs to sponsors of Vision Mission Projects to developing countries. Some mission groups are Lions, but there are several others, often including vision professionals.
To commemorate World Vision Day, consider organizing an eyeglass collection drive or simply promote your area collection box. Of course, there are many other ways to help, including conducting eye and vision screenings within your local community, working with eye care professionals to create an eye health presentation or holding an educational event promote diabetes awareness and related vision loss.
No matter how you choose to serve, know that you are making a big difference to the sight of your community and to others who live all over the world. Let’s work together to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to sight.
World Vision Day information provided by your friends at Lions Pride!
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