LADY LAKE, Fl. (352today.com) — Since 1987, the Orange Blossom Gardens (OBG) Lions Club has been dedicated to improving lives through vision care, and one of its most enduring commitments is to Project Right to Sight. This effort invites community members to donate used prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses, offering the gift of clear vision to people who might otherwise go without.
Project Right to Sight was founded in 1990 and has grown into a network of Lions Clubs, volunteer eye care professionals, and community supporters working together to fight preventable blindness and correct vision problems for underserved populations. From its headquarters in Central Florida, the program provides free eye exams, fits refurbished glasses, and restores vision for thousands of people each year.
The OBG Lions’ participation ensures that glasses donated here in Lake and Sumter Counties may end up in the hands of a student in a neighboring school district, a veteran who has fallen on hard times, or a senior citizen living on a fixed income.
“Vision is one of the most valuable gifts we have, and it’s something far too many people lose simply because they cannot afford care,” said Barbara Crewell, President of the OBG Lions. “A pair of glasses you no longer use may give a child the chance to keep up in school, allow a parent to continue supporting their family, or help a senior regain the ability to read, drive, and live independently. It’s such a simple act, but it has the power to transform a life.”
The donation process is straightforward: residents drop their unused eyewear into one of the OBG Lions’ collection boxes, where it is later gathered, inspected, and prepared for delivery to a Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center. There, each pair is cleaned, its prescription measured, and it’s carefully matched to someone with that same prescription.
For Lynn Stange, an OBG Lion who helps with the club’s collection and sorting efforts, the work is as rewarding as it is necessary.
“Every pair of glasses that comes in represents hope for someone,” Stange explained. “We handle them with care as we clean, sort, label, and pack them for shipment. It’s amazing to think about how something unused in a drawer here in The Villages or Lady Lake can restore confidence and dignity to someone in a community we may never even visit. That’s the beauty of service—it reaches farther than we can see.”
To make participation as convenient as possible, the OBG Lions maintain collection boxes at the following locations year-round:
· BJ’s Wholesale Club (Lady Lake)
· La Hacienda Recreation Center (The Villages)
· Lady Lake Library (Lady Lake)
· Lange Eye Institute
· New Covenant Church
· North Lake Presbyterian Church
· Mid-Florida Eye
· St. Timothy’s Catholic Church
· Bob Johnson Legacy Driving Range
· Walmart (Summerfield)
· Lake Eye Association – Sharon Morse Building
· Lake Eye Association – Highway 466
· Sam’s Club (Lady Lake)
· MyEyeDr. (Lady Lake & Leesburg)
· Sheltering Hands Thrift Store (Lady Lake)
Even glasses that are slightly scratched or in need of minor repair are accepted—many can be restored to excellent condition before they are distributed.
The Orange Blossom Gardens Lions Club is part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service organization with over 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries. Guided by the motto “We Serve”, the OBG Lions are dedicated to addressing vision health, supporting humanitarian causes, and strengthening the local community through volunteerism. In addition to Project Right to Sight, the club supports a variety of local programs, from youth scholarships and health screenings to food drives and partnerships with other area nonprofits.
“Helping someone see clearly again is one of the most direct and profound ways we can improve their life,” Crewell added. “We are proud to continue this tradition and grateful for every community member who chooses to be part of it.”
For more information about the OBG Lions Club, please visitwww.obglions.com or emailinfo@obglions.com.