Re-SPECS Frames for the Needy
Thank you to B’nai B’rith members who have donated pre-loved glasses for the Re-Specs project in Israel. Please continue dropping off your discarded glasses to the B’nai B’rith Office. These glasses make a big difference to the lives of low-income recipients in Israel. In numerous clinics across Israel such people are able to receive free eye tests, and glasses at nominal fees, or free, depending on their circumstances. The glasses are provided using recycled frames and the volunteer services of Israeli optometrists.
We are fortunate to now have two local optometrists who have kindly agreed to assist with this project (inspecting frames and removing lenses from full frames), so keep those glasses coming. We accept full frames, half frames and rimless glasses, and glasses for both adults and children. Please let Ruth (0414 760 906) know if you will be travelling to Israel and can take a 500g pack of glasses with you.
Additionally Ruth would be very grateful to hear from any member who would be willing to take over her role of sourcing B’nai B’rith travellers willing to take glasses frames packages with them for collection by a Re-Specs representative in Israel.
We have been working behind the scenes to expand this project and now receive the support of Bialik College through their Mazkirut Program, and another dynamic organisation is about to come on board. We are also arranging collection boxes for donated glasses at some other Jewish organisations and have arranged to receive some pre-loved glasses from an op shop.
Again thank you for helping those in Israel so in need of corrective eyewear, a basic commodity that we take for granted.
Yvonne
We are fortunate to now have two local optometrists who have kindly agreed to assist with this project (inspecting frames and removing lenses from full frames), so keep those glasses coming. We accept full frames, half frames and rimless glasses, and glasses for both adults and children. Please let Ruth (0414 760 906) know if you will be travelling to Israel and can take a 500g pack of glasses with you.
Additionally Ruth would be very grateful to hear from any member who would be willing to take over her role of sourcing B’nai B’rith travellers willing to take glasses frames packages with them for collection by a Re-Specs representative in Israel.
We have been working behind the scenes to expand this project and now receive the support of Bialik College through their Mazkirut Program, and another dynamic organisation is about to come on board. We are also arranging collection boxes for donated glasses at some other Jewish organisations and have arranged to receive some pre-loved glasses from an op shop.
Again thank you for helping those in Israel so in need of corrective eyewear, a basic commodity that we take for granted.
Yvonne
The following describes the Re-Specs project in Israel. You can also look at: www.respecsframes.org
RE-SPECS Frames for the Needy rescues unwanted glasses frames in order to recycle them for people in need. These can often be obtained from optometrists – who provide used or even new, surplus frames – or from private donors, consumers like you who have used frames to donate.
The concept behind RE-SPECS Frames for the Needy was developed in 2008 with the realization that in many countries, those who have certain health coverage are entitled to receive a new pair of glasses once a year. The question arose, "What happens to last year's glasses?" And an idea was born.
Recognizing this excellent untapped resource, RE-SPECS' founder sought a way to assist Israel's needy by collecting and channeling the glasses to them. In addition to being a worthy recycling venture whose benefit to the environment is obvious, RE-SPECS aims to ensure that vision-impaired people who are in need are able to obtain suitable eyewear at affordable prices. RE-SPECS believes that no person should live without corrective eyewear simply because he cannot afford it.
The concept behind RE-SPECS Frames for the Needy was developed in 2008 with the realization that in many countries, those who have certain health coverage are entitled to receive a new pair of glasses once a year. The question arose, "What happens to last year's glasses?" And an idea was born.
Recognizing this excellent untapped resource, RE-SPECS' founder sought a way to assist Israel's needy by collecting and channeling the glasses to them. In addition to being a worthy recycling venture whose benefit to the environment is obvious, RE-SPECS aims to ensure that vision-impaired people who are in need are able to obtain suitable eyewear at affordable prices. RE-SPECS believes that no person should live without corrective eyewear simply because he cannot afford it.
With HQ located near Ra'anana in the heart of the country, and additional satellite branches in the north and south, RE-SPECS benefits from the widespread support of local optometrists and spectacle retailers. These enthusiastic professionals provide assistance to RE-SPECS in terms of the sorting, adjustment, cleaning and maintenance of thousands of frames that have been donated. Additionally, they eagerly assist in the collection of pre-loved frames, as well as overstocks. RE-SPECS also enjoys the help of volunteers of all ages, including 15-16 year old youngsters offering their volunteer services for 60 hours a year, under the Social Bagrut Certificate system.
RE-SPECS works in conjunction with the Social Services branches across the country as well as local charities to channel the frames to people in need.
Since its inception, RE-SPECS has evolved from a surplus-and-used glasses collector to a service provider with a fully functioning eye clinic, providing free sight tests and affordable glasses to thousands of needy individuals referred by social services from 82 cities and towns in Israel. Targeting society’s weakest elements - low income families, those receiving food or financial aid via charities, people with disabilities, senior citizens, Holocaust survivors, terror victims, new olim with financial difficulties, single-parent families and lone soldiers - all services are provided for a nominal fee.
RE-SPECS works in conjunction with the Social Services branches across the country as well as local charities to channel the frames to people in need.
Since its inception, RE-SPECS has evolved from a surplus-and-used glasses collector to a service provider with a fully functioning eye clinic, providing free sight tests and affordable glasses to thousands of needy individuals referred by social services from 82 cities and towns in Israel. Targeting society’s weakest elements - low income families, those receiving food or financial aid via charities, people with disabilities, senior citizens, Holocaust survivors, terror victims, new olim with financial difficulties, single-parent families and lone soldiers - all services are provided for a nominal fee.
As of January 2015, RE-SPECS has received and distributed thousands of new and pre-loved frames via private donors and optometrists in Australia, the USA, South Africa, France and Israel to underprivilged families in cities such as Jerusalem, Raanana, Ramat Yishai, Bnei Brak, Hatzor Haglilit, Beit Shemesh, Netivot, Kiryat Malachi and Kiryat Yearim.
Who is eligible for the full benefit of our services?
Those with low income – up to 2,000nis per head per month
Those receiving guaranteed minimum income or income supplement from the National Insurance Institute
Those who are known at the Social Services for financial difficulties
Those receiving financial or food aid via charity organizations
Disabled persons
The elderly and holocaust survivors
Victims of terror attacks
New Olim with financial difficulties
Single-parent families
Lone soldiers
Those with low income – up to 2,000nis per head per month
Those receiving guaranteed minimum income or income supplement from the National Insurance Institute
Those who are known at the Social Services for financial difficulties
Those receiving financial or food aid via charity organizations
Disabled persons
The elderly and holocaust survivors
Victims of terror attacks
New Olim with financial difficulties
Single-parent families
Lone soldiers