Humanitarians at Trillium Woods Collecting Eyeglasses for Tanzania
Bobby and Barbara Griffin have become humanitarians in their retirement years. The Plymouth couple founded a clinic in Tanzania to treat eye disorders.
Now they aim to help hundreds of kids and adults with untreated vision issues by collecting old and unwanted eyeglasses.
“Eyesight is an issue that isn’t addressed in poor countries,” said Barbara Griffin, a retired nurse.
The Griffins partnered with the Lions Club, which will refurbish the eyeglasses and send them to the East African country. They say the value to the people of Tanzania is immense.
“We walk on streets that are paved. They live in mud huts. They live on paths that are rocky. They just have a more difficult time. They go to schools that don’t have very good lighting, so it makes a huge difference,” said Bobby Griffin.
Bobby and Barbara Griffin founded an eye clinic to help people in Tanzania.
The Griffins founded a recently opened ophthalmology clinic at the Dodoma Medical Center in Tanzania.
“We have a machine that will measure the shape of the glass, then grind a new lens specifically for a patient,” said Bobby Griffin.
He said the work can also be done inexpensively, mentioning patients can get two lenses for under $10.
“The glass plus the lens with a proper prescription is much, much less expensive than if they were to buy it at a store here. I doubt you could do that for less than $200 here,” he said.
Residents can donate unwanted eyeglasses, non-prescription sunglasses and reading glasses at the lobby at Trillium Woods senior living community in Plymouth from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trillium Woods is accepting donations until May 31.
“The world is full of people of equal ability, but not equal opportunities,” said Bobby Griffin. “When you provide somebody with sight, you free up other people more than the just person you help.”
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