For many people, an old pair of eyeglasses sits forgotten in a drawer. Thanks to the annual Eyeglasses Collection, hosted by the University’s Sustainability Office, unused glasses will help people around the world see more clearly while keeping usable materials out of the landfill.
During this year’s drive, the University community donated 1,270 pairs of eyeglasses. The departmental competition accounted for 695 pairs, while 257 pairs were donated through the collection box at the Flaum Eye Institute, and 318 pairs were received through the mail-in program. Since the program began in August 2014, the University has collected 20,401 pairs of glasses, helping improve access to vision care for thousands around the world!
This year, eighteen departments competed to collect the most glasses and create the most eye-catching box. The “Sampson’s Sight Savers” team from the Office of the Provost and the Office of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs collected the highest number of donations, bringing in 76 pairs of glasses. Business Administrator Ann Publow reported, “Provost Sampson was delighted to participate, and folks all over Wallis Hall contributed to the effort — so the truth is that we won right there!”
This year also marked a new chapter with a new partnership with the Lions Club of Chili. Mike Donner of the Lions Club of Chili coordinated the distribution of donated glasses to InterVol, where reusable glasses will be provided to individuals in need around the world. Glasses that are no longer suitable for reuse will be responsibly recycled through ReSpectacle (ReSpecs), ensuring that even unusable eyewear does not end up in landfills. The University’s Batavia Multispecialty Clinic earned recognition for creating this year’s Most Eye-Catching Box, featuring a creative lion-themed design inspired by the Lions Club (pictured left).
Senior Practice Manager Julie Odachowski, who helped organize the effort, wanted the collection box to catch everyone’s attention and thought that a lion theme in honor of the Lions Club was the way to go. The idea quickly became a collaborative project among clinic staff.
“I gathered all the materials, and with the help and input from our staff, we brought the idea to life,” said Odachowski. “Once it was finished, it turned out even better than we had imagined. It certainly drew the attention we were hoping for, and before long, the donations started pouring in.”
Odachowski added, “Every pair of donated glasses has the potential to improve someone’s vision and make a real difference in someone’s life, and that’s something worth celebrating.”
Expanding access through reuse
Sustainability isn’t always about launching a major initiative, it can begin with asking a simple question: Is there another use for this?
When eyeglass cases were no longer accepted alongside donated glasses, it was seen as an opportunity rather than a limitation. Instead of allowing these cases to go to waste, Karen Cool of Rush Rhees Library Building and Technology Services made them freely available in Gleason Library to anyone on campus who may need them. The Sustainability Office is donating cases to Rochester Greenovation, whose mission is to help people in Rochester reuse things and keep them out of the landfill.
It’s a reminder that sustainability often grows from creative, proactive thinking. By looking beyond a simple item’s original destination, we can create a solution that keeps reusable materials in circulation, benefiting both individuals and the environment.
A community effort
The Sustainability Office extends its sincere thanks to everyone who made this year’s program possible, including the Lions Club of Chili, University Mail Services, the Flaum Eye Institute, and every department and individual who contributed.
What began as a simple opportunity to donate unused eyewear has grown into a University tradition that combines sustainability, service, and creativity. Thanks to the continued generosity of the Rochester community, thousands more people around the world will have access to clearer vision, one donated pair at a time.
Written by Anu Ravi, ‘29
