Trick-or-treaters can donate eyewear to needy

The sweetest Halloween treat of all contains no chocolate.

It’s a special gift from children to people around the globe who need eyeglasses: the gift of sight. And people across North America are starting now to plan to trick-or-treat for a cause this year.

"Sight Night," a great Halloween tradition, stars little ghouls and goblins across the USA and Canada who ring doorbells on Oct. 31 for candy and something more. They’re also trick-or-treating for used eyeglasses for the Give the Gift of Sight program.

Planning for "Sight Night" begins annually in September and early October when parents and kids, as well as service organizations all over the country, order or download their "Sight Night" collection materials that ask people to have used eyeglasses ready by Halloween.

All shapes, sizes, and colors of used eyeglasses are collected on "Sight Night," including prescription or non-prescription, even sunglasses. The eyeglasses are then recycled and hand-delivered on international missions throughout the year to children, adults and senior citizens in developing countries including Bolivia, Tunisia, Mexico, Laos, Peru and Thailand.

This annual national campaign, sponsored by LensCrafters Foundation in partnership with Lions Clubs International, invites both kids and adults to get involved. More than 27,500 volunteers last year collected nearly 200,000 pairs of used eyeglasses, according to Angie Hartman, who manages the used eyeglass program and is a former mission team member.

"And we can use so many more," she added.

"Many of the people who receive the used glasses have never seen an eye doctor before. Some have walked for hours–even days

––to get their free pair of glasses," said Hartman.

"And there’s nothing more gratifying than the smile on the face of someone who’s seeing clearly, often for the first time ever."

Participating in "Sight Night" is easy. Volunteers get a group together or collect by themselves. They go to the "Sight Night" Website, www.sightnight.org, or call (877) 605-4242 to order a free "Sight Night" collection kit available through mid-October.

Used eyeglasses can be dropped off at any LensCrafters store or Lions Club, both of which accept eyeglass donations for Give the Gift of Sight all year long.

"Sight Night" is part of Give the Gift of Sight, a family of charitable vision care programs.

To date, LensCrafters and Lions Clubs’ volunteers have provided free eye care to nearly three million people in need in North America and in 25 developing countries. For more information, visit the "Sight Night" Internet Website at www.sightnight.org or call (877) 605-4242.

This story was provided by the North American Precis Syndicate.