Lions to Attempt Largest Single-day Collection of Eyeglasses at the National Memorial Day Parade

First time ever collection of eyeglasses from parade spectators at the National Memorial Day Parade

Washington, DC (PRWeb) May 19, 2009 - The Lions Clubs (http://www.lionsclubs.org/) of Washington DC, Maryland Delaware and Virginia will attempt to collect the largest number of recycled glasses in one day at the National Memorial Day Parade (http://www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com/) in Washington DC.

Over 100 Lions will walk alongside their float to collect unwanted glasses from spectators along the Constitution Avenue parade route with Recycle for Sight (http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/member-center/planning-sight-projects/eyeglass-recycling/vision-eyeglass-sight.php) boxes. These glasses will be washed, calibrated and packaged to be sent to doctors who will distribute glasses to needy individuals after a proper eye exam.

In the last twelve months, Lions have collected over 250,000 pairs of glasses and hearing aids in the DC metropolitan area. The Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program, an official service activity of Lions Clubs, has been recycling eyeglasses for approximately 80 years. Each year, over 4 million pairs of eyeglasses are donated to the Lions and dispersed around the world.

The large blue Lions Community Outreach Foundation (http://www.lionsoutreach.org/site/) Mobile Health Unit bus will also be parked at 7th and Constitution, NW as a stationary location for spectators to drop off their glasses for recycling.

This is the first time the Lions Clubs have appeared in the National Memorial Day Parade. The Parade is on Monday, May 25, 2009, along Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets in Washington DC and free to the public.

The Lions parade contingent will include a float with the 2008's Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest winner and a "Sea of Purple" of local club banners. Sitting on the float and marching behind will be a cadre of military veterans who are Lions. Once they had served their country, now they serve their communities.

Lions Clubs of Washington DC, Maryland Delaware and Virginia include over 500 clubs and almost 17,000 men and women.

Lions Community Outreach Foundation (LCOF) of District 22-C is a community based, not-for profit organization committed to preventing blindness through sight-saving outreach programs. Visit the LCOF for sight services, volunteer opportunities and eyeglass collection at www.lionsoutreach.org.

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with nearly 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 205 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions Clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the Web site at www.lionsclubs.org.

In its third year, the National Memorial Day Parade expects to attract over a quarter of a million spectators and be viewed by over sixteen million homes on local stations and the Pentagon Channel.

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