05/22/2025
Give Your Old Glasses a New Purpose—Right Here at Our Office! 👓
Did you know you can drop off your unwanted eyeglasses at any of our office locations? But have you ever wondered what happens to them after they leave your hands?
Once collected by a representative from the Meadville Lions Club, your donated glasses begin an incredible journey. Their first stop is SCI Cambridge Springs, where they’re carefully cleaned, repaired, and have their prescription strengths measured. From there, they're packaged and boxed, ready for their next destination.
SCI Cambridge Springs is home to the PCI Optical Lab, a thriving program that provides meaningful vocational training for up to 25 inmates. These individuals must first complete a four-month course in optical work before they’re eligible to join the lab. Once trained, they even have the opportunity to take the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) certification exam—an achievement that has already empowered more than 90 participants to earn their optician credentials.
Next, the glasses are transported to the Brother’s Brother Foundation in Pittsburgh. There, they are stored and prepared for distribution. Brother’s Brother is a nonprofit that serves both global and local communities, delivering essential supplies—including eyewear—to people in need, right here in the U.S. and around the world.
Founded in 1958 by Dr. Robert A. Hingson, Brother’s Brother Foundation continues to change lives through the power of accessible healthcare and humanitarian aid.
Mary, our dedicated Lions Club representative, shares:
"The Meadville Lions Club is grateful for the Optical Lab Program at SCI Cambridge Springs, the Brother’s Brother Foundation, and all of our partners—including Vision Source—as we work together to bring vision assistance to so many."
So why not make a difference today? Drop off your old glasses and help someone see the world more clearly.
To learn more about SCI or Brother’s Brother click the following links: https://www.pa.gov/.../state.../sci-cambridge-springs.html
https://brothersbrother.org/about/
