Faculty and staff members from Kent State East Liverpool’s nursing program are collecting used eyeglasses to donate to the Lions Club for its Recycle for Site program.
Collection boxes are located in the lobbies of the Mary Patterson Building and Purinton Hall. Glasses will be collected until March 20.
The Lions Club accepts prescription and reading glasses, as well as sunglasses, metal and plastic frames. Children’s glasses are especially needed.
According to Marcie Van Fosson, clerical specialist in the associate degree in nursing program at Kent State East Liverpool, the faculty and staff were inspired by the story of how Helen Keller attended the Lions Club International Convention in 1925 and challenged the organization to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” The Lions accepted her challenge and created program aimed at helping prevent blindness.
“We were influenced by this inspiring story and decided to participate, too,” Van Fosson explained. “As educators, nurses and service providers with hearts for those in need in our community and beyond, we want to get involved with this mission.”
Once collected, the glasses are delivered to a regional Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (LERC), where volunteers clean, sort and package them. The glasses are then distributed to those in need.
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Photo: Shown with the collection boxes for used eyeglasses are (from left) Marci Van Fosson, clerical specialist in the ADN program at Kent State East Liverpool; Dr. Cristina Riter, nursing program director; and Kaitlyn McDaniel, a first-year nursing student.