More than 1,500 pairs of eyeglasses have been donated to the TROY Dothan Rotaract Club’s Lions Recycle for Sight campaign. 

The donation came from Colby Spivey of Vision Center South, who had heard about the club’s student-led campaign, which is partnered with the Lions Club of Headland. She, along with Anna Armstrong and Eloree Paul delivered the glasses to the club at Malone Hall in May.

Vision Center South has optometry officers in Dothan, Enterprise, Brewton, Wetumpka, Marianna, FL and Bainbridge, GA.

“The prescription eyeglasses and frames filled seven banker’s boxes,” said Rachael Cox, the club’s co-sponsor. So far, the drive has collected 1,539 pairs of gentle used eyeglasses.

Lions Recycle for Sight helps people in low- and median-income areas outside the United States receive basic eye care. Organizations across the United States set up eyeglass collection boxes and, once collected, the eyeglasses are shipped to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center where they are cleaned and sorted. 

“The free vision screenings and free eyecare improve the quality of life of the recipients, allowing them to learn, work and live with better vision,” Cox said.

Partnering with the Headland Lions to make an international impact is right up the club’s ally and speaks to the international scope of the University and the Sorrell College of Business.

“Our TROY Dothan Rotaract Club continues to impress us with their hard work and giving spirit,” said Dr. Dewey Todd, Rotaract co-sponsor, Associate Dean of the Sorrell College and president of the Headland Lions Club. “This is a major help to the Lions as we provide eyecare to the poor in 49 countries.”

It isn’t the only philanthropic endeavor undertaken by the club. This year, the club has helped with Love Dothan Cleanup Day, conducted a food drive with the Wiregrass Area Food Bank, participated in food distribution with Momma Tina’s Soup Kitchen, assisted with the pre-Mardi Gras parade family activities with the Downtown Dothan Redevelopment Authority, and has lent a hand to the Sorrell College’s Youth Business Summit.

The Troy Dothan Rotaract Club is a service club and basically the college version of Rotary International. It is sponsored by the Dothan Tuesday Rotary Club, which provides mentors for the students as well as speakers at the club’s every-third-Thursday meetings in Malone Hall.

Used eyeglasses can be dropped off at the Dothan Campus through May 31, or in a Lions Recycle Sight donation box near you. For more information about the TROY Dothan Rotaract Club, visit @troydothanrotaract on Instagram and @RotaractTROYDothan on Facebook.

Dr. Dewey Todd and Clif Lusk contributed to this report.