“Thank you to everyone who donated their used eyeglasses and sunglasses at our collection sites, It is often life-changing for those receiving these glasses who otherwise would not have access to eyewear.””

Nederland Lions Club President Ann Marie Morgan

NEDERLAND - On June 5, 2025,  members of the Nederland Lions Club, along with additional volunteers, met at the Nederland Community Presbyterian Church to sort 983 pairs of eyeglasses donated to the service organization at collection sites throughout the Peak to Peak region.

The glasses were sorted according to a variety of categories, including prescription and non-prescription glasses and sunglasses, specialty designer brands, readers, and broken or damaged glasses.

Each group is counted and then sent to various organizations which distribute the glasses or recycle them in several ways. A select number of readers are kept by the local Lions Club to give away at the Nederland Farmers Market.

All usable prescription glasses are cleaned, scanned to determine the optics of each pair, and sorted by prescription at the Colorado Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (COLERC). They are then boxed for distribution to a number of organizations, who then distribute them in the U.S. and around the world to people who do not have access to glasses.

This year Colorado Lions Clubs, including the Nederland Lions Club, provided a total of 15,350 glasses, which were distributed to those in need in Uganda, Ecuador, Togo, Peru, Mexico, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, and Greece, as well as to organizations serving people needing them here in Colorado.

“Thank you to everyone who donated their used eyeglasses and sunglasses at our collection sites,” said Nederland Lions Club President Ann Marie Morgan. “It is often life-changing for those receiving these glasses who otherwise would not have access to eyewear.”

In addition to the eyeglass project, the Nederland Lions Club provides vision screening for pre-school and kindergarten students, and volunteers at the Nederland Food Pantry. They also sponsor the Nederland Middle High School Peace Poster Contest, Speech Contest, Senior Banquet, and After Prom.

The Club also supports the Nederland Community Library and Canyon Cares, provides scholarships for Nederland graduating seniors, and has been a sponsor of the local Rise Against Hunger food packaging event. 

For more information about the Nederland Lions Club visit https://www.nederlandlionsclub.org.