HELOISE Many eye doctors collect old glasses for charity

Dear Heloise: I read an article about donating old eyeglasses. In a future update to your readers, you might want to note that there are many optometrists and ophthalmologists across San Antonio and other cities who participate in the Lions Club program, both by donating glasses and administering eye exams.
You can help by suggesting to your readers that the next time they make an appointment to see their eye-care professional, to inquire as to whether the professional participates in the program. If so, they can bring in glasses they no longer use to be donated. This would be a tremendous boost to the program across the country and would allow the Lions Club and its many eye-care partners to help even more people. Thanks for sharing this information. Dawn Rakich, O.D. (Doctor of Optometry), San Antonio
We see "eye to eye" when it comes to helping others who have vision problems. Folks, pass on those old eyeglasses that are just taking up space in a drawer, cabinet, etc. Dawn, thanks for the good advice for all. Heloise
P.S. We collected more than 10 pairs just in my office alone! Here's the Heloise Challenge: How many can you collect?
Dear Heloise: As the holidays are approaching and decorations are being purchased, a simple and inexpensive way to have extra bulbs on hand is to purchase an extra strand and designate those bulbs as the replacement ones. This is cheaper than buying the replacement packs, which are often difficult to find. Becky in North Carolina
The holidays can be fun but also a lot of stress -- cooking, decorating, shopping and such! Want more than 30 holiday recipes (including low-cal eggnog and pistachio ambrosia) with decorating and Christmas-tree hints? Receive two pamphlets (14 pages) by sending $6 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (83 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Holiday, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Be prepared for drop-ins by always having on hand crackers or chips, some quick-fix dips, cheese and olives. You can put these together in just a few minutes, and no one will know! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Your column has been part of my reading for more years than I like to admit.
This morning, I went barefoot to the kitchen for my first cup of coffee, and a large glass fell, breaking on the tile floor and leaving sharp pieces and shards all around my feet. The big pieces weren't hard to pick up, but all the small slivers and shards were almost impossible to see on the textured, colored floor tile. Out of some brain crevice, I recalled that damp paper towels can pick up such things. The damp towel did a good job, and so, Heloise, I have you and your contributors to thank, and I do. Bill Dodgen, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or e-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate