What would you pay for good vision with a new pair of glasses? A day's wages? A week's? For many people in developing countries, one month's wages will barely cover an eye exam—assuming they can even secure an appointment. Lions have recognized the urgent need for corrective lenses and continue to fight the problem with the Recycle For Sight program.

Recycling a pair of eyeglasses costs as little as 8 cents, and with nearly 37 percent of all clubs participating and almost 30 million glasses collected last year alone, eyeglass recycling is one of Lions' clubs most popular activities. Officially adopted by the association in 1994, the collection and donation of used eyeglasses enables many in developing countries to see well for the first time. Costs for an eye exam and new glasses are often prohibitive and the scarcity of qualified eye doctors is another barrier.

The need is still present. As many as 90 percent of adults need glasses by age 40 in order to read. According to the World Health Organization, the vision of one in four people could be improved with a pair of corrective eyeglasses. That equates to 500 million people who could easily have improved vision.

Starting an eyeglass collection program can be easy. Use Recycle For Sight Month in May as motivation to begin your club's program—doing so helps fight correctable vision loss and makes your club visible within the community.

Many businesses will allow donation boxes or permit club members to hold donation drives at their entrances. Schools, libraries and places of worship are also excellent donation box locations. Optometrists or ophthalmologists are also likely to assist your recycling efforts by placing collection boxes in their offices.

Don't forget to inform the community. Visit the Resources section of the Lions Clubs International (LCI) Web site to download a copy of the "Lions Recycle for Sight Activity Guide" and ready-to-use press release mate¬rials, which can be sent to local newspapers, radio sta¬tions and television stations. Public Relations also offers free radio public service announcements.

Clubs across the world have taken dynamic approaches to recognizing Recycle For Sight since the association officially adopted the program in 1994. Here are just a few:

In California, Rockland Lions attribute the club's ability to collect 11,725 pairs of eyeglasses in under nine months to the inspiration of sightless club member Alien Richard, who continually collects eyeglasses outside of the Rockland community.

Lions from Multiple District 13 in New Jersey received a proclamation from Governor Jon S. Corzine declaring May 2006 "New Jersey Lions Eyeglass Recycling Month."

East Baton Rouge Lions Club members took a page from the fast-food playbook by creating a drive-up eyeglass depository. The club collected more than 5,000 pairs of eyeglasses last year.

Mesquite Virgin Valley Lions collected 4,200 pairs of used eyeglasses and gave them to the Las Vegas Blind Center for worldwide distribution as part of the Nevada club's recycling efforts.

The "Lions Recycle For Sight Activity Guide" (PR-782) can be downloaded from the Resources/Publications/Vision section of www.lionsclubs.org or ordered by calling (630)571-5466, ext. 358. Be sure to complete the collection total form and send to headquarters.

Club Supplies has collection boxes, box stickers, ban¬ners and the video "New Glassses, New Life" (PR-28V) available for purchase through the Club Supplies catalog or Web site.

Recycle at Convention—bring your recyclable eyeglasses to the International Convention in Chicago to participate in the attempt at the world's largest eyeglass recycling effort.