Across Australia, Lions Clubs are playing their part in restoring sight and dignity for those in need—one refurbished pair of spectacles at a time. Lions Recycle for Sight Australia, headquartered in Queensland, forms part of Lions Clubs International’s Worldwide Eyeglass Recycling Program, delivering millions of pairs of eyeglasses to people in need across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania.

Requests from humanitarian organisations—stocking shipping containers with aid or venturing into developing regions—fuel this extraordinary initiative. In recent years, even members of Lions’ Marine Branch have sailed their boats into remote villages, testing vision and delivering glasses in person. These acts of generosity extend the reach of compassion to some of the world’s most isolated communities.

Locally, Lions clubs play an essential role in keeping the momentum alive. In Goolwa, we have spectacle collection points at pharmacies, opticians, and community hubs. They can also be handed in directly to us at the Goolwa Lions Book Den, at Wildman St, Goolwa. Our club alone gathers thousands of pairs each year. If you think of all the clubs in SA, then each of the other States, the number of pairs dispatched each year is unbelievable—proof of the efforts of Lions members and the generous hearts within each community.

These spectacles mean more than just improved eyesight. For a child trying to read, an elder longing to thread a needle, or a worker struggling to see clearly—each pair opens up opportunity, independence, and joy.

Though each Lions Club and their local community contribute in quiet ways, they are part of a national framework of care, ingenuity, and dedication. Lions Recycle for Sight Australia reminds us how simple acts—like donating old glasses—can ripple outward, illuminating the lives of strangers half a world away.

Please drop your old, no longer needed glasses in to any of the locations mentioned above.