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By The Daily Gleaner

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The New Maryland Lions Club is revitalizing a traditional project of the service club - eyeglass recycling.

Lions clubs have traditionally collected used eyeglasses to provide them to individuals in developing countries.

Lions Clubs International organizes sight-saving missions on a regular basis, inviting ophthalmologists and opticians to provide eye exams or corrective surgical procedures at mobile clinics. In some areas, permanent eye clinics are established through the organization.

The New Maryland Lions Club will be creating drop points throughout the village for the program.

"Residents can look for distinctive deposit boxes, located in several stores and public buildings," said club member Bill O'Donnell.

In early December, during the annual toy and food drive in the village, the club will be collecting used spectacles, along with non-perishable food items and new toys for distribution in the greater New Maryland-Fredericton area.

"Village residents will be able to pack up unneeded glasses separately and have Santa's volunteers pick them up along with the customary donations," O'Donnell said.

New Maryland Lions have set a goal of collecting 2,008 eyeglasses during the year.

The club has the support of the Barkers Point Lions Club on the recycling initiative.