Two local organizations are helping third world children and their families see their world from a new perspective.
The Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association and the Bronx Lions Club partnered up for a wonderful humanitarian project to collect used eyeglasses for underprivileged children and adults residing in third world countries.
According to Steve Glosser, PPNA vice president, the donated spectacles will be sterilized, cleaned and have their prescriptions determined before being delivered to Guatemala.
“When I first contacted Bill Gumbel of the Bronx Lions Club he was very receptive to the idea of working together on this massive undertaking,” shared Glosser. “The Bronx Lions Club is a very community-minded organization and we’re thrilled to be working with them for this worthy cause.”
This project marks a new effort for PPNA to broaden its service to the community, Glosser stated.
Founded in 1923, the Bronx Lions Club establishes many eyeglass collection boxes throughout the borough and annually collects in excess of 2,000 pairs of bifocals.
For this year’s insightful project, Gumbel, Bronx Lions Club secretary, provided Glosser with ten eyeglass collection boxes which he strategically placed throughout the Pelham Parkway neighborhood.
Approximately 430 eyeglasses have been collected since this past April.
Glosser actively reviews the collection boxes on a biweekly basis.
He confirmed that the humanitarian project remains ongoing with no end date in sight.
Residents interested in donating used eyeglasses are asked to drop them off at the following locations: Bronx House on 990 Pelham Parkway South, Apple Bank on 626 Pelham Parkway South, Pelham Parkway Vision on 735 Lydig Avenue, Sterling Optical on 2168 White Plains Road, NY Eye Surgery Center on 1101 Pelham Parkway North, Eye Care Unlimited on 1086 Morris Park Avenue, Designer Optical of Pelham on 2196A White Plains Road, St. Clare of Assisi Church on 1919 Paulding Avenue and St. Francis Xavier Church on 1703 Lurting Avenue.
“The response was fantastic,” he expressed. “This is further proof of the big hearts the giving people of Pelham Parkway have.”
He further credited its tremendous success to the collection sites’ staff members and pastors openly promoting the cause to their many customers and parishioners.
“We thank them and deeply appreciate what they have done for their community,” said Glosser. “It’s wonderful to have so many businesses who put their community first.”
Additional drop off sites include Montefiore Medical Center’s Henkind Eye Institute on 3400 Bainbridge Avenue, Dime Community Bank on 1931 Turnbull Avenue, Bronx YMCA on 2 Castle Hill Avenue, Ridgewood Savings Bank on 1770 E. Gun Hill Road, Fromer Eye Center on 3130 Grand Concourse Suite 1J, Pear Tree Mall’s Stop and Stop on 691 Co-op City Boulevard, Councilman Andy King’s District Office on 940 E. Gun Hill Road and Co-op City Library on 2049 Asch Loop.
For more information, visit www.bronx
