HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

The question has been asked: How exactly does a cell phone recycle transaction work, if a individual were independently recycling their phone and not just dropping it in a box? It’s easy to simply donate the phone to a charity, but of course, recycling it yourself allows you to direct the funds to any group you wish and as anonymously as you wish.

1) Examine your cell phone to note whether it is in working order or not. Some recyclers are looking for only working phones, or pay a premium for them. The reason? Some phones are not recycled into raw materials, but are refurbished and resold as reconditioned phones. Non-working phones are also accepted depending on desirability of the model. Note the condition – Like New, Normal Wear, etc.

2) When you find the best deal offered for your model, follow the company’s outlined procedure.

3) Carefully pack and mail your phone. Many providers waive the shipping fee by giving consumers a USPS/Fedex account number or generate a printable label. Some shipping methods include tracking, but many do not. If you have a phone that carries a high value, it is best to ship it on your own dime so that the package is guaranteed trackable.

4) After the quoted period, you will receive a check or vouchers in the mail or payment via PayPal, depending on the company’s terms. Payment time ranges from one to five business days from receipt of the phone, but times vary.

When you receive your check, remember your favorite charity. You can direct the funds to your favorite cause for whatever program you care about most.

I frequently visit a town now where there is a Leader Dogs organization. Every so once in awhile, you can see little fluffy “Leader Dogs in Training” walking around town in their bandannas.

There are many people in the area who open their homes as puppy raisers, and donate monetarily as well. The organization is heavily support by the Lions club, who also have other vision related charitable programs. They always collect eyeglasses to send around the world to those it would make a difference too. Some people, including children, have severe vision limitations that do not cause them to be blind, but limit their ability to be successful at work and at school.

Sometimes, I look in the bin and see a huge amount of very outdated glasses. I am not talking about style specifically, but weight. Now, glasses are lighter. Technology has improved and they can make lenses a little thinner and frames a little lighter. There are not as many coke bottle glasses as there were before. It would be nice to donate glasses that are more recent, versus at the end of the road.

A few folks have been telling me about Zenni Optical and their $8 frames. They have frames that are slightly more expensive, but indeed have plenty at the $8 price point. I thought about buying a few cheap eyeglasses and donating them to the Lions. This way, they would have a few light weight pairs for someone needed them. Perhaps have a more modern look would help someone put their best foot forward, or just make it easier without the weight.

Some may point out that the frames are not made in the United States. So far, I have not found any that are. If you find a company, please point it out to me. However, this allows someone to buy what is at the optical stores at a more factory direct price. You can afford to be generous. In fact, what a better way to impact someone’s life for such little money. For $8-20, someone’s life can be dramatically transformed. They can see the rivets at the factory, learn to read, or simply lead an independent life if the correction needed is extreme.

Several organizations collect donations of gently new and used eyeglasses for distribution to those in need. Images of clinics in Africa or South America usually pepper the promotional materials. Sometimes a pair of glasses is the difference between someone being able to regain enough precision in their vision to land a job at a local factory or finally be able to use a computer or even write a letter. While I am all for reaching out around the world, I always thought that the benefit to people right within the United States, or even North America, fell through the gap.

Upon further research, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this is not always the case. Mason, Ohio based OneSight hosts regional clinics and vision van visits in major cities where qualified individuals receive eye exams and are matched up with a pair of glasses. They’ll be in Chicago May 9th through 20th, and stop in Toronto May 30th through June 3rd. New Eyes for the Needy collects glasses from individual donors to ship overseas. In the United States, they provide a voucher program funded by monetary donations. The Lions Club supports vision programs, such as Leader Dogs for the Blind, in the United States, but primarily ships glasses overseas almost exclusively.

If you would like to donate your old eye wear, consider also buying a few inexpensive, but more current frames to be transformed into prescription eyeglasses for children and teens. Sites like Zenni Optical offer frames starting at $8 that you can buy online. I remember how brutal some of my classmates were to each other sometimes in junior high. Having financial hardship is tough enough, and young teens sometimes struggle to let it fly under the radar of your peers. Sending along a few pairs of glasses in very classic, basic styles that could look fashionable for a number of years, or something that is relatively up to date would be appreciated by them immensely. While they may be appreciated by Retrophiles, sell your large-framed Julie Kotter glasses online instead of donating them, and use the proceeds for something new to send along.