MADISON – Members of Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church and Madison Area Lions Club recently collaborated on a way to help people in the community.

Pine Grove congregation members sponsored a collection drive for eyeglass recycling to assist outreach by Madison Lions. The collection drive gathered more than 80 ‘gently used’ eyeglasses for recycling.

“We are pleased to collect these used eyeglasses and put them in the hands of someone that can recycle them,” Al Woods said. Woods serves as Church Program Coordinator and is a member of the Greeter Ministry at Pine Grove.

“We all have eyeglasses around the house that can be recycled and used by those individuals less fortunate than us. It is also wonderful to support the Madison Area Lions Club,” Woods said.

“This is the second year that Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church held the eyeglass recycling event,” Lions President Cheryl Emich said. “It’s a pleasure to partner with Pine Grove on this effort. We appreciate their help with the critical recycling program that can bring sight to so many people around the world.”

The Lions Club gathers prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, along with glasses without a prescription, as part of their unique recycling.

“We need everyone to donate their used eyeglasses,” Emich said. “In many countries, an eye exam can cost as much as one month’s wages, and a single eye doctor may serve a community of hundreds of thousands of people.”

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 150 million people suffer from blurred vision due to uncorrected refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. Often, a simple pair of eyeglasses can bring the world into focus, but a lack of access to basic care prevents many people from getting the needed treatment.

Donated glasses will be shipped to a regional Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center. The glasses are cleaned, categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution to Lions missions and other groups.

To donate used glasses (including sunglasses and reading glasses), place them in specially marked collection boxes for “Lions Recycle for Sight” at these locations:

* Advanced Eye Care — 102 Intercom Way, Madison AL 35758.

* America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses — 8141 U.S. 72 W., Suite I, Madison AL 35758.

* Dublin Park Pool — 8324 Old Madison Pike, Madison AL 35758.

* EyeMart Express — 6125 U.S. 72 W., Huntsville AL 35801.

* Madison Eye Care Center — 66 Hughes Road, Madison AL 35758.

* Madison Eyes — 419 John Henry Way, Madison AL 35758.

* McCoy Vision — 100 Providence Main, Huntsville AL 35806.

* Pathway Eye Center — 12181 County Line Road, Madison AL 35758.

* Pearl Vision Center, 7771 U.S. 72 W., Madison AL 35758.

* Redstone Optometry Clinic — Fox Clinic, Redstone Arsenal.

* Sam’s Club Optical — 5651 Holmes Ave. NW, Huntsville AL 35816.

* The Eye Center of Madison — 1041 Balch Road, Suite 110, Madison AL 35758.

* University of Alabama in Huntsville Faculty and Staff Clinic — 301 Sparkman Drive, Wilson Hall, Room 327, Huntsville AL 35899.

Madison Area Family Lions Club is always looking for new members who want to serve their community. The Lions meet monthly on second Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Dublin Park, 8324 Old Madison Pike.

Lions clubs are recognized service organizations that find needs within their community and work together to fulfill those requirements. For more information, email Tony Villamil at madisonlionsclub@gmail.com or visit Facebook/Madison Area Family Lions Club.