Throughout the month of March, the Campus Services office along with the Buffalo State
branch of the New York Public Interest Research Group collected sunglasses and eyeglasses
from students as donations.
According to Lauren Bostaph, staff assistant for Campus Services at Buffalo State, in 2010
149 pairs of glasses were collected and in 2011 171 pairs were collected.
Students can donate through the collection boxes located in the library and the Campbell
Student Union, through the Campus Services office directly, or through campus mail,
addressed for Moore Hall 124.
“We collect throughout the month and the donations are sent to the Lions Club, who
distribute the glasses,” Bostaph said.
From there the glasses are donated to poor children and adults in the U.S. and overseas
through a program called New Eyes for the Needy, said Patty Ceravole, student donator and
representative for NYPIRG.
She said she was hoping to break 200 this year but the donations seem to be slowing down
now, with 111 pairs collected this year. She said she thinks that student supplies have been
depleted over the past couple years, accounting for the lower number and growing word of
mouth.
Bostaph said she will wait to send in the donations until the end of April since she seems to
receive more even after the donation boxes have been removed from campus.
NYPIRG works closely on projects throughout the semester with Campus Services since
the two groups, along with Evergreen, Buffalo State’s initiative to promote environmental
consciousness, share similar interests and goals.
This semester, NYPIRG had a donation box available to students at their table during
Bengal Pause and also in their office in the union, said Ceravole. The organization was able
to collect about 20 pairs of glasses this semester to add to the donation pile, she said.
Her donation will help people who are struggling and cannot afford but need glasses.
“I don’t personally have insurance so I know the burden myself,” Ceravole said. “This is
something I can be proud of.”
Ceravole said that her latest pair of glasses cost around 350 dollars, and even though she
works full time it was still difficult for her.
“I can only imagine how difficult it is for other people who are just trying to see,” she said.
Campus Services, along with Evergreen, will have similar opportunities for students
throughout the rest of the semester.
“We do the same events every year and they always work out very well,” Bostaph said.
Later this month they will participate in a local prescription drop off day. They also will
host an information fair about environmental issues and work to bring awareness to
students and faculty about topics such as waste mineralization and energy conservation.
Jennifer Waters can be reached by email at waters.record@gmail.com.