University of Missouri - St. Louis collects eyeglasses for Haiti quake victims

February 11, 2010

The earthquake in Haiti left hundreds of thousands of individuals with no supplies or necessities.

Many organizations have done what they can to collect items that can be shipped to those who need them the most, including food, clean water and clothing. The University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL) recognizes the need for eyeglasses for individuals who cannot receive proper eye care and may have lost their prescription eyewear in the devastation, according to KSDK.com.

Students of optometry will be giving the donated glasses to an organization to be redistributed to individuals in need. Depending on the number of eyeglasses received, the program might distribute some glasses to other developing nations as well, the news source reports.

UMSL will also be throwing a Haiti benefit concert to benefit the cause.

One of the organizations most well known for collection eyeglasses is the Lions Club. The group currently has 17 eyeglasses recycling facilities around the world, where glasses are cleaned, sorted by prescription and delivered to individuals who match the need, according to the nonprofit's website.