Easy sight … Julie Zilic prepares some glasses to be sent overseas. 55917
By Charlene Gatt
A FOOTSCRAY funeral home is part of a national community drive that gives people in some of the world’s poorest countries the opportunity to see again.
Recycle for Sight is a joint effort between Le Pine Funeral Services, White Lady Funerals, Simplicity Funerals and the Lions Club of Australia to collect second hand prescription and sunglasses that are cleaned and then sent on to third world countries through aid agencies.
Drop-off boxes are located in the funeral homes of the three funeral companies.
More than 35,000 pairs of glasses have been collected Australia-wide through the partnership so far.
Australia is one of 40 countries participating in the initiative.
Julie Zilic from Le Pine Funeral Services in Footscray and Robyn Ward from Simplicity Funerals in Werribee said the initiative had been well received by the community.
“Most people update frames every year to get the latest look or simply to make a change in their appearance. Often the old frames are discarded without a second thought,” Ms Ward said.
“Donating your old spectacles to someone who really needs them is such a small way of making a very big difference and we are proud to help facilitate the process.”
