YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. donates eye glasses to Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation in Kenya
Since 1949, the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation’s vision has been “building a better tomorrow by bringing individuals into a world of sight and sound.” One Georgia Lions Lighthouse goal is to close the gap on 2 million Georgians who are uninsured. The foundation provides access to low-cost vision and hearing services.
In May of 2016, the wellness committee at YKK USA’s Sales Headquarters initiated a campaign to collect eye glasses for National Vision Month, and in May of 2017, we saw the results of this campaign. We set a goal to collect 100 pairs of reading, prescriptive and non-prescriptive glasses and sunglasses. By allotting our Denim Day funds to contribute towards purchasing more eye wear, we were able to surpass our goal by collecting 150 pairs of new and used glasses.
Fashion designers turn damaged eye wear into works of art
The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation collects glasses in any condition. The foundation provides gently used donations to neighbors in need throughout the world for humanitarian and mission trips. By law, the foundation is not able to dispense used prescriptive eye wear to patients in the United States. Therefore, only reading and non-prescriptive eye wear can be provided to Georgians in need. Other types of eye wear are sent overseas on mission trips. Donations of scratched and broken glasses are accepted and used in the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation’s annual fundraising fashion show called Night of Spectacles, where designers turn damaged eye wear into works of art.
The Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation recently released their annual results, which indicated that a total of 7,091 pairs of eyeglasses were donated in Georgia, and more than 100,000 eyeglasses were donated globally. With the help of YKK USA’s Sales Headquarters and Wellness Committee, we were fortunate to be able to be a small part in a larger cause in the community. If you would like more information on how you can make a donation, please visit https://lionslighthouse.org.
