Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center
The Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation (OLSHF) administers the Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Program (LERC) for the State of Oregon. OLSHF manages one of 18 LERCs worldwide. Over 100,000 eyeglasses are collected every year from communities across the state, mostly thanks to the efforts of Lions Clubs who collect the eyeglasses.
Follow the path of your donated glasses
Collect
Eyeglass collection boxes are set up at vision providers, pharmacies, retirement homes, and stores throughout Oregon. Lions Club volunteers gather and transport those donations to our warehouse in NW Portland. Various other service organizations such as the Elks, Kiwanis, Northwest Medical Teams and Boy Scouts of America partner with us by coordinating their own collection projects and providing them to us for our mission.
Sort
Thanks to our partnership with Central City Concern, local sororities, alumni groups and Lions Clubs, we are able to host these groups to assist in the sorting of the eyeglass donations received. Our volunteers sort out usable eyeglasses to continue their journey in the recycling process.
If you or your group are interested in helping at a sorting, contact Tracy@OLSHF.org See below for more details.
Prepare
Since 2002, OLSHF has partnered with Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) in Wilsonville, OR to process the eyeglass donations. At CCCF, 30 women adults in custody (who have been accepted into the Paraoptometric Training and Eyeglass Recycling Program) clean, calibrate, repair and sort the eyeglasses. The glasses are then categorized and stored back at the warehouse in NW Portland, ready for sight missions.
Supply
Numerous organizations request specific inventories of “mission ready” eyeglasses from our warehouse for their trips. We distribute thousands of donated eyeglasses each year to sight missions all over the globe including Vietnam, Mexico, Australia, Africa and many other underserved areas of our world. To request glasses for your mission trip, contact Tracy@OLSHF.org!
See how recycled glasses are making a difference, both in our communities and abroad
Eyeglasses, hearing aid and cell phone drop-off sites
Please note: If you require a tax receipt for your donation, you must ship or bring in your donation to the Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation office in Northwest Portland:
Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation
1010 NW 22nd Avenue, #144
Portland, OR 97210
We cannot provide tax receipts for unverified donations, such as those collected at the drop-off sites listed below.
Come party with us!
We’re always looking for volunteers to help us sort the donated glasses we receive!
Sorting parties are held primarily at the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program (LERC) warehouse in Northwest Portland and are currently by appointment only. If you want to host a sorting party at your location, please get in touch with Tracy Brown.
Sorting parties are an excellent opportunity for groups of all ages to give back to their communities, earn some community service hours, or have fun while giving your time to a great cause!
Who might be a good fit?
Lions Clubs / Individual Lions
Scout troops or independent scouts
Students who need community service hours for graduation or program requirements
Anyone who wants to lend a hand!
Contact LERC Manager Tracy at Tracy@olshf.org with questions or to schedule your party today!