Hickory – While you were decorating for the Christmas season,  did you located in your attic, basement, dresser drawers, or garage an unwanted cell phone, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and hearing aid batteries? Did  you received a new pair of eyeglasses, hearing aid, or cell phone for Christmas? Perhaps, one of your New Year’s Resolution’s is to eliminate clutter by recycling all of these three items.  But didn’t know what you with them. Why not donated, deposit, and recycle them in one of LIONS RECYCLE FOR SIGHT boxes strategically placed at various locations strategically placed throughout Catawba County, Lincoln County and surrounding counties.

What types of recyclable eye wear, does the Lions Clubs accept?

New, used, prescription children and adult eyeglasses, prescription and non-prescription sunglasses, and all types of reading glasses. Due to state and federal public health laws, all recyclable eyeglasses are collected, cleaned, sorted by prescription strength, and packaged for overseas distribution. Remember there is a great demand for prescription and non- prescription sunglasses in countries located close to the Equator. As a result of concerns about possible eye infections, contact lens cannot be recycled.

What types of cellphones are accepted and recycled by the Lions Club?

Androids, i-phones, Smart Phones, and all major brands are accepted for recycling. Unfortunately, bag phones are not recyclable. Remember to remove your mini-, micro- and nano- Sims cards.

What types of hearing aids are recyclable by Lions Club?

Catawba and Lincoln County Lions  Clubs are accepting recyclable unwanted hearing aids.  Any make or model, regardless of age, can be donated from behind the ear, open fit, receiver in the canal, and completely in the canal.  All types of hearing aid batteries are also recyclable.

A list of those businesses, audiologist/ hearing aid specialist, financial planners, funeral homes, pharmacies, health care providers, optometrist, ophthalmologist, and eye care professionals, restaurants in Catawba County, Lincoln County, and surrounding cities/counties participating in Lions Recycling Program are listed below:

Assisted Living Centers: Brookdale Assisted Living (Hickory Northeast) 2530 16th Street, NE, Hickory, NC 28601

Audiologist & Hearing Aid Specialist: 1) Bowles Hearing Care, 930 Tate Boulevard SE, Suite 105, Hickory, NC; 2) Hearing Life, 1071 13th St, SE, Hickory, NC

Camp Dogwood & NC Lions Foundation, Inc. 7062 Camp Dogwood Road, Sherrills Ford, NC

Catawba County Library:  Sherrills Ford Branch Library, 2217 Lymore Dr., Sherrills Ford, NC

Churches & Schools: 1) Southwest Primary School, 1580 32nd St. SW Hickory; 2) W.H. Johnson SDA School, Hickory Seventh Day Adventist Church, 172 23rd St NW, Hickory, NC

Chiropractic Offices: ProWellness Family Chiropractic, 644 Clark Drive, Lincolnton, NC

Drug Stores: 1)The Drug Store, 626 Center Drive, Lincolnton, NC; 2)The Drug Store, 9576 NC Highway 10, Vale, NC; 3)Keever Pharmacy, 1814 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC; 4)Long View Drug, 2637st SW, Hickory, NC

Dentist Offices: 1)Catawba Valley Dental (Dr. Raymond Pate), 2315 Catawba Valley Boulevard, SE, Suite #5, Hickory;2) Claremont Dental Arts, 3034 North Oxford Street, Claremont, NC

Counseling Centers: Family Guidance Center,  17 US 70 SE, Hickory

Financial Planners: Tim Bryson, Edward Jones, 3332 East Main Street, Claremont, NC

Funeral Homes: 1) Burke Mortuary  1101 East Maiden Road, Maiden, NC; 2) Burke Mortuary & Crematory, 2516 North Main Street, Newton, 3) Carpenter- Porter Funeral & Cremations, 1100 East Main Street, Cherryville, NC;  4)E.F. Drums Funeral Home, 210 North Academy Street, Lincolnton, NC; 5)Good Samaritan Funeral Home, 3362 North Highway 16, Denver, NC; 6) Jenkins Funeral Home, 4081 Startown Road, Newton; 7)Stamey-Cherryville Funeral Home, 405 North Dixie Street Cherryville, NC; and 8) Warlick Funeral Home, 125 Dave Warlick Drive, Lincolnton, NC

Municipal Government: Town of Long View Government Center 2404 1st Avenue, SW, Hickory, NC

Optometrist, Ophthalmologist, & Vision Centers: 1) Advance Family Eye Care, 7547 Waterloop Road, Suite A, Denver, NC; 2)Carolina Eye Care, 623 North Highway 16, Denver, NC; 3)Carolina Eye Care, 231 North General’s Boulevard, Lincolnton, NC; Cherryville Eye Center ( Dr. Van Dellinger), 201 West Church Street, Cherryville, 4) Elite Family Eye Care (Dr. Yupheng Ly & Dr. Doua Lov), 2339 US Highway 70 SE (near Bob Evans Restaurant) Hickory, NC; 5) Graystone Eye, 2424 Century Place, SE, Hickory, NC; 6)Graystone Eye, 2311 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC; 7) Graystone Eye, 2424 Century Place, Hickory, NC; Lincoln Eye Center, 110 Doctors Park, Lincolnton, NC;8) Looking Glass Vision Center, 2511 Springs Road, Hickory, NC;9) Looking Glass Vision Center, 1526 US Highway 70, Hickory, NC; 10)Maiden Eye Clinic, 503 Island Road, Maiden, NC; 11)Mountain View Eye Center, 3038 South Highway 127, Hickory, NC; 12) Sam’s Club( (Optical Center) 3540 East Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC: 13) Treasurer’s Vision, Northgate Plaza, 2439 North Center Street, Hickory, NC;14) Wal-Mart Vision Center, 201 Zelkova Court, NE, Conover, NC; 15) Wal-Mart Vision Center, 306 North General’s Boulevard, Lincolnton, NC;16) Wal-Mart Vision Center, 2525 Highway 70 SE, Hickory, NC

Podiatrist: 1) Foot and Ankle, 268 Gillman Road, Denver, NC; and 2)Unifour Podiatry (Dr. Jon Grogan) 912 2nd St. NE, Suite 2, Hickory, NC

Recreation Center: Walkin’ Roll Activities Center, 202 S. Center Street, Hildebran, NC

Restaurants: Four Peas In A Pod, Villa Park Shopping Center, 426 Conover Blvd., Conover, NC

US Post Offices: 1) Sherrills Ford Post Office, 8220 Sherrills Ford Road, Sherrills Ford,NC  and 2) Terrell Post Office- 7985 NC Highway 150 East, Terrell, NC

Who are The Lions?

Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest coeducational  service organization, has more than 1.4 members in 46,000 clubs in 210 countries and geographic areas around the world. Lions Club International was founded in 1917 by Melvin Jones, a Chicago business leader.

At the 1925, Helen Keller spoke at Lions Club International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio challenging the  Lions to become “ the knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” In keeping with Lions Club International motto “We Serve”, accepted her challenge to help the blind/visually impaired.  Over the past 107 years, Lions Club International has expanded their mission to support 8 global causes to include  diabetes awareness, vision, , childhood cancer, hunger, environment, humanitarian efforts, youth,  and disaster relief.

How To Learn More About Local and Lions Club International Service Opportunities?

Currently, Catawba and Lincoln County Lions Club are looking dedicated community mind men and ladies (21-years-old and older) to volunteer at their service projects/fund raisers and explore the possibility of membership. Lions Club events “don’t just  happen”, they take some planning, a little hard work, and plenty of volunteers. If you would like to learn volunteer opportunities with  your local Lions Club, then  google  Lions Club International  at https://www.lionsclubs.org ( and to locate a local Lions, check out their  websites http://www.lionsclubs.org (click find a club) or https://www.nclf.org. Also, you are encouraged to check out their Face Book Pages.