Old-eyeglass donations will make a visionary gift

Dear Heloise: I have been cleaning and found 11 pairs of old eyeglasses, and I understand you have an address where people can mail them. Would you please publish that address so I can mail them out? Sharon Kennedy, via e-mail

Sharon, there are many groups that collect eyeglasses, but I think you are referring to Lions Clubs International, which has been collecting glasses for nearly 80 years. Adult and especially children’s eyeglasses are needed. Prescription and nonprescription glasses and sunglasses are gathered from the many donation centers and sent to one of the nine Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers here in the United States (there are 17 centers worldwide). Volunteers help clean and sort the glasses before shipping them to developing countries, where they are given to the needy. Go to the Lions Club Web site at www.lionsclubs.org or call the closest club to find a list of donation centers where you can drop off or mail your old eyeglasses. These collection boxes usually can be found at the following:

•Schools.

•Places of worship.

•Libraries.

•Optometrist offices.

•Train stations.

•Coffee shops.

•Community centers.

•Video stores.

What a wonderful gift to others — the gift of improved sight! Heloise

Dear Heloise: On empty toilet-tissue rolls, I wind ribbons (both for wrapping paper and hair). Iron, wind and hold with a paper clip. No more wrinkles. Lynda Woodstra, Diamond Bar, Calif.

Dear Heloise: My father is 82 years old and cannot button his shirts. I also have arthritis in my hands, which makes it hard for me to do.

I took a few of his shirts, removed the buttons and replaced them with self-gripping fabric-tape strips. Buttons can be resewn on the front of the shirt for a really finished look.

This has saved us both time and aggravation when trying to button shirts. Anyone who sews will be able to do this. It also would be a nice volunteer project to help friends who are not able to sew. Jeanie F., via e-mail

Dear Heloise: You can use plastic wrap that seals when you press it together to store paint rollers for a short time. I was out of the gallon-size sealable plastic bags that I usually use to keep rollers fresh, so I used plastic wrap instead. I opened it the next day to do my second coat, and the roller was in perfect condition to use again. I also used it to cover the tray so I wouldn’t have to wash it out twice. Michele, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: A potato-chip can holds a compact sewing kit. It is large enough to hold a pincushion, pins, scissors, tape measure, seam ripper and thread. I added an adhesive-backed magnet inside the lid to hold needles. Betty Jo Leapley, via e-mail

SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate