Wiltshire practice collects frames for homeless

Haine & Smith Opticians has collected over 1,600 frames for homeless people in Wiltshire after the success of a pop-up sight testing centre with local charity Alabaré in September, 2021.

The optical practice and charity planned more pop-up centres across the county and ensured it had enough eyewear to dispense by asking patients to donate old pairs.

Anna Lewin, clinical lead optometrist at Haine & Smith, said: ‘When we launched our campaign we didn’t imagine we would get such a good response. To receive this many pairs of unwanted spectacles already is amazing.’

Any frames that cannot be refurbished and re-used will be given to the Wiltshire Lions Club, which will use them for a similar scheme to help eye clinics in Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Ghana.