Wiltshire folk have donated more than 1,600 pairs of glasses in response to an appeal to help the county’s homeless see properly.
In September last year, Haine & Smith opticians partnered up with regional charity Alabaré to pilot a pop-up eye-testing centre at Unity House in Chippenham. They carried out sight tests on the residents staying there and then if needed, provided them with free glasses which were donated by Wolf Eyewear.
Following the success of the pilot, the team visited the Trowbridge Alabaré home where it officially launched the Sight for All campaign, with a plan is to hold up more pop-up centres across the county.
To make sure they have enough frames for the residents to choose from, the opticians put a call out to the county’s residents to donate their old spectacles so they can be refurbished and re-used. This has led to more than 1,600 pairs being handed into the practices across the county.
Anna Lewin, clinical lead optometrist at Haine & Smith, said: “To receive this many pairs of unwanted spectacles already is amazing. We’re busy planning our next pop-up centre so please keep bringing your donations to us.”
Glasses which cannot be refurbished will be given to the Wiltshire Lions Club for their own scheme which helps eye clinics in Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Ghana.
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