New Eyes for the Needy
The “Company Profile” is an Earth911.com series highlighting consumer goods and services making a difference through product stewardship and recycling. Products and services featured do not pay for placement and are not endorsed by Earth911.com.
New Eyes for the Needy provides the opportunity for improved sight to millions of people worldwide. The organization was founded by Julia Terry in 1932, when as a nurse for the Red Cross, she noticed that many of the people who had come for help could not read their applications, because they did not have the money to pay for glasses.
Supported annually by the help of hundreds of volunteers, New Eyes works through its two major missions:
- Purchasing new glasses for qualifying applicants in the U.S.
- Sending donated glasses to those in need overseas through various groups
To date, the organization has helped over seven million people in 56 countries find a new quality of life through improved sight. To learn more about the company and how people can get involved, Earth911 spoke to Susan Dyckman, the executive director for New Eyes.
How it Works
New Eyes receives monetary donations and used eyeglasses from individuals, religious groups, civic groups, opticians and manufacturers. According to Dyckman, New Eyes receives between 200,000 and 300,000 pairs of glasses per year, averaging at a retail price of $250 per pair. Because of this steep cost, Dyckman noted that for those people who could not normally afford them, these glasses may be “the only pair of glasses they’ll ever own.”
In the U.S., New Eyes uses a voucher program, where those who qualify can take their voucher to any optician who accepts their reimbursement for a new pair of glasses. According to Dyckman, “100 percent of individual donations and foundation donations go to the purchase of new glasses.” In other countries, donated pairs of glasses are fitted to individuals by volunteer groups, such as medical missions, across the globe.
Fabulous Finds
If you happen to be in the area of Short Hills, N.J., you can stop by New Eyes’ location and visit its Fabulous Finds showroom. There, donated items such as estate jewelry, china, crystal and silver are sold to raise money for the New Eyes’ U.S. eyeglass program.
New Eyes also accepts hearing aids for recycling to raise money for their U.S. eyeglass program.
Seeing Change
For Dyckman, the most exciting part of her job is working with volunteers, “because they are so enthusiastic about our mission.” In addition, she also enjoys “hearing back from the people that we help. We receive pictures from missions, and it’s so inspiring to hear the difference that these glasses make. It makes a world of difference to a lot of people.”
When considering the impact of impaired vision on a person’s life, the effects are far-reaching. “How can you fulfill your job responsibilities, live safely, prepare meals? How can you build a fire? There’s such a loss of independence.” Dyckman also added that, “so many children are identified as problem learners, not because of diminished capacity, they just can’t see clearly. 70 percent of juvenile delinquents have a vision problem.”
In the future, Dyckman hopes to continue New Eyes’ two programs and focus on raising awareness about them, including finding new donors and partners.
Favorite R
Dyckman’s favorite “R” is “reuse, because a pair of eyeglasses is a very precious thing for someone who can’t afford to get them on their own. It makes people more self-sufficient. Most people can imagine what it’s like not to be able to see clearly and the impact that would have on their lives.”
The World Health Organization estimates that 153 million people around the world have vision problems which could be corrected with glasses. Eyeglass donation is a great way to keep valuable resource out of landfills and in the hands of those who need them most.
- "Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Facts" Lions Club International http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/vision_eyeglass_centers.shtml.
- Dyckman, Susan. (11/07/2008). New Eyes for the Needy Phone Interview.
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Teresa Gelsi
posted on January 11th, 2012 at 10:55 am