BIG-HEARTED ELGIN residents have helped a local optician to stockpile a large collection of old and unwanted glasses that will be reused help people in developing countries.
Specsavers in Elgin has amassed a whopping 3200 pairs of specs since the start of this year thanks to kind donations from the Moray public.
The store has also pledged its own donation to the cause by adding 70 brand new but discontinued children’s frames to the total. The huge haul will be handed over to eyecare charity Vision Aid Overseas (VAO) – which recycles the specs and uses the funds generated to provide eyecare to those who need it in the developing world.
Peter Taylor, store retail director at Specsavers Elgin, said: ‘The support we have had from the local community has been fantastic and I cannot thank our customers enough for their efforts.
“Specsavers has been a supporter of VAO for many years – it’s a great charity. Unfortunately, lots of people overseas don’t have access to the most basic of eyecare so receiving a pair of prescription glasses can make a remarkable difference to their lives.
“I would like to encourage our customers to keep handing over their old and unwanted specs to help a very worthy cause.”
Specsavers and Vision Aid Overseas have a joint commitment to provide eyecare for people living in Zambia. As part of its ongoing fundraising for the charity, the company has to date channelled more than £800,000 into the Zambian partnership.