Fairlop have been collecting all kinds of spectacles – both old and new for a number of years. We have collected approximately 1,821 since July last year!
The collection of spectacles is a MD 105 project. The MD105 is Lions Clubs International British Isles and Ireland. The used glasses are sent to the Lions Club of Chichester where they are cleaned, graded and repaired if necessary and sent to developing countries – mainly India and Africa where they are distributed at Eye Camps and Eye Clinics by volunteer opthalmists and opticians to people who would not be able to afford eye care.
The hearing aid collection is another MD 105 project. Used hearing aids are sent to Hastings Lions Club who in conjunction with Frankland Prison have them cleaned and repaired and sent out to developing areas , namely in Thailand, India, Venezuela and Ghana especially for distribution to Schools and Clinics for the Deaf. We have been fortunate enough to have collected hundreds of hearing aids this year alone with the assistance of local hearing clinics and Barts NHS Trust. We counted approximately 406 hearing aids since our count in July 2014.
We also collected used printer cartridges and toners. These are sent to an ink refilling company who pay an amount for each cartridge. All proceeds are sent to Leo House, which is a Children’s Hospice in Brighton. Cartridges and toners have also been sent to Water Aid. This is a Lions supported project who build Water Wells in Africa. Our cartridge collection since July 2014 was approximately 113.
Last but not least, we also find a use for used stamps. Both GB and foreign stamps are collected for the Hearing Dogs Association. The stamps are sold to stamp dealers and money raised is used to help train hearing dogs. This Association is based in Oxfordshire, hearing dogs alert deaf people to household sounds and danger signals within the home, workplace and in public buildings. They provide a life changing level of independence, confidence and companionship.
These are collected and then sent to our re-cycling unit in Europe where they are cleaned, prescribed and sent to third world countries to distribute to the people with poor vision who cannot afford to buy spectacles.