Lions Al (St. Davids), Keith & Sharon (Merritton), Alan & Glenn (Grantham) present cheque to John & Aileen

St Davids & District, Grantham and Merritton Lions clubs each donated $1700 to Niagara Warehouse of Hope on March 25, 2025. This total donation of $5100 was used to purchase a much needed Essilor Alm500 Auto Lensmeter. This equipment will help volunteers efficiently calibrate used eyeglasses donated to the Warehouse. This donation brings their total number of machines to four (4) and allows volunteers to sort glasses onsite and at remote locations.

Merritton and Grantham Lions clubs collect used eyeglasses from all optometrists in St. Catharines on a quarterly basis. St Davids Lions Club is the drop off centre for all of District A 2 Lions Clubs. Glasses collected are donated to the Warehouse of Hope, who then sort, clean, calibrate and package these glasses for shipment. In the past two years a total of 20,000 pairs of glasses have been shipped to Cuba, Philippines, Haiti, Congo and Guatemala.

The Niagara Warehouse of Hope was founded in 1989 by Mary and Ted van der Zalm Sr. It is run by volunteers with one mission: Helping People Help Themselves. Their focus is on shipping donated medical equipment & supplies, food, clothing, household items and school supplies to those in need both locally and offshore. Small in house projects include sewing projects, calibrating used eyeglasses, crocheting matts from milk bags and repairing computers and medical aid equipment.