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World Sight Day is Thursday, October 8, and the LaGrange Lions Club is hosting a Recycle for Sight event. Drop-off locations will be LaGrange Eye Clinic, Dr. Brent Brown Eyecare, Highland Country Club and Troup Cares.

LaGrange Lions Club President Larkin Dorsey said that this is the first year they have hosted an eyeglass recycle event.

“We realized it was world sight day and wanted to highlight one of our projects,” Dorsey said. “We take any style, size or prescription glasses. We clean them and categorize them based on prescription then they are sent off to people in need.”

Dorsey said that they have eyeglass recycling boxes out all year long, but wanted to utilize World Sight Day to possibly get more glasses in.

“We plan on continuing this event for years to come but we also hope that people still utilize our year-round drop-off boxes,” Dorsey said. “I think when you do like an eyeglass drive or a specific event, it encourages people to go through their house and clean out and find out their old glasses and sunglasses. We’re just hoping that a lot of people will take the time to go around their house, go through some old drawers and find their old glasses because it really can make a difference in someone’s life.”

Last year, the club contributed over $23,000 to organizations that assist those in need, mostly funding sight loss prevention programs or improving the quality of life for those with vision difficulties. This includes a unique vision-care program offered in coordination with Drs. Cliff Rainey and Jerry Overall of LaGrange Eye Clinic and Dr. Brent Brown of Dr. Brent Brown Eyecare who provide free eye exams to needy individuals, including children. The club pays the cost of administration and for any glasses that are prescribed.

To qualify, individuals are screened by LaGrange Personal Aid and must meet strict requirements.

“With this year being the first year we have done this event, we don’t really know what to expect,” Dorsey said.

“We’re just trying to raise awareness and hoping that people can really get behind this project.”

The club is also a major supporter of Troup Cares, a clinic for those who do not have health insurance or qualify for government aid. One of the clinic’s major efforts is the treatment of diabetes, which is a primary cause of eye disease and sight loss.

Other sight-related recipients include the Canine Companion program, the Camp for the Blind, the Guide Dogs program and the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation.