With a trunk full of purpose and compassion, Sue Gilbert of the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club delivered 1,449 pairs of donated eyeglasses on July 6 to the town of Cream Ridge in Monmouth County.
It was a step in a journey that will ultimately provide vision to individuals in developing countries around the world.
“It’s very fulfilling knowing that these glasses will go on to help others who wouldn’t have access to vision care and corrective glasses,” said Gilbert, a retired school nurse and dedicated Lions Club volunteer.
Once in Cream Ridge, used eyeglasses are taken to the New Jersey Eyeglass Recycling Center in West Trenton, where they are meticulously cleaned, sorted and categorized by vision strength. The center processes nearly 1.2 million used pairs a year, but due to regulations that restrict their use in the U.S., the majority are sent abroad through Optical Missions to serve communities in dire need of vision care.
“Vision is one of the Lions organization’s global causes,” Gilbert explained. “In many developing nations, people don’t have access to eye exams or glasses. A single pair of glasses can change a person’s life, helping them work, study and care for their families.”
The Lions Club’s commitment to vision care dates back nearly a century, to when deaf and blind Helen Keller challenged the organization in 1925 to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” It’s a challenge the Lions’ organization has continued to embrace.
The Voorhees-Gibbsboro chapter has partnered with area groups like the West Berlin and Haddonfield Lions to expand their reach.
“We all support each other,” Gilbert noted. “This year, we collaborated on a Dine and Donate event and a 5K Run for Vision.”
To make eyeglass donation easy, the club has two dropoff locations in Voorhees: For Eyes on White Horse Road and the office of Dr. Edward Melman on Laurel Oak Road. Known by his last name, the doctor is also an active member of the Lions Club.
Gilbert encourages businesses and organizations to get involved.
“If anyone would like a collection box at their business or would like to organize a drive, we’d love to help,” she said. Interested parties can reach out via email at Voorheesgibbsborolionsclub@gmail.com.
Though the Voorhees-Gibbsboro chapter is still young – just over a year old – its mission is robust. The group plans to volunteer at the recycling center and participate in an array of community initiatives, from local food pantries to public-health programming.
Upcoming projects include vision screenings for young children from 6 months to 6 years at local schools and daycares in September. The club will also continue its volunteer efforts at Hope’s Food Pantry in Voorhees and Cathedral Kitchen in Camden.
Community events that Lions’ members participate in include National Night Out in August, the Voorhees fall festival and the Haddonfield club’s 5K Run for Vision. Holiday service projects are also on the horizon, including the return of the Lions’ popular pancake breakfast with Santa, as well as educational library lectures.
For Gilbert, volunteering is a natural extension of her 37-year nursing career.
“Once I retired, I knew I wanted to give back,” she said. “Being part of the Lions Club has shown me how deeply service can impact lives – both here and across the globe.”
As the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club continues to grow, it remains committed to the mission of service, according to Gilbert.
“We’re always coming up with new ways to help the community,” she observed. “Whether it’s through a pair of glasses or a pancake breakfast, we’re here to serve.”
For more information on the Lions, email Voorheesgibbsborolionsclub@gmail.com
