Where to donate Eclipse glasses? Can you actually donate them?

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  • Post last modified:October 13, 2024
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Catching a solar eclipse is a magical experience for everyone. But staring directly at the sun can harm your eyes big time, as the sun’s harmful rays will damage your retina. Therefore, we use eclipse glasses to observe a solar eclipse.

But what will you do with your Eclipse glasses after that? Most of them will lie in a corner of your house till the next eclipse! And they might get damaged due to a lack of care. You should always avoid using scratched, broken, or expired eclipse glasses, as they won’t save you from getting your eyes damaged. Modern-day eclipse glasses that comply with ISO 12312-2 do not expire, according to the American Astronomical Society (AAS).

In such cases, letting go of your eclipse glasses is a way to go. You can either remove the glasses from the cardboard or recycle the cardboard, but there’s a more efficient way too. You can donate your Eclipse glasses! Yes, you heard it right!

Organizations like Astronomers without Borders accept used eclipse glasses, and they donate them to people looking for new eclipse glasses after performing quality checks and ensuring the safety of the glasses. To donate your eclipse glasses, you can visit or mail them to the collection center address given below.

StateName of OrganizationAddress
ArkansasLittle Rock ZooPlease contact Laura Bernstein-Kurtycz
ArkansasNortheast Arkansas Education Cooperative211 W Hickory St, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476
ConnecticutBethel Public Library
189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, CT 06801
ConnecticutDiscovery Science Center & Planetarium4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604
FloridaLong Key Nature Center – Broward County Parks & Recreation3501 SW 130th Ave, Davie, FL 33330
FloridaJefferson County R.J. Bailar Public Library375 S Water St, Monticello, FL 32344
GeorgiaTeasley Elementary (Cobb County School)3640 Spring Hill Parkway, Smyrna, GA 30080
IllinoisStinson Memorial Public Library District409 S. Main St., Anna, IL 62906
IllinoisMorton West High School2400 West Home Avenue, Berwyn, IL 60402
IndianaPersimmon Tree Foods and Gifts680 S US HWY 231, Bloomfield, IN 47424
IndianaWonderLab: Museum of Science, Health, and TechnologyAttn: Kate Seader: 308 W 4th Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
KentuckyRowan County Public Library175 Beacon Hill Rd., Morehead, KY 40351
KentuckyLogan County Public LibraryAttn: King Simpson
PO Box 357, Russellville, KY 42276
LouisianaSt. Tammany Parish Library Administration Office1112 W. 21st Ave., Covington, LA 70433
MaineFreeport Harraseeket Grange No913 Elm Street, Freeport, Maine 04033
MaineHaven Homes and Lifestyles39 Government St., Kittery, Maine 03904
MaineHome Ec. Market410 Main Street, Presque Isle, Maine 04769
MarylandCollection Node Volunteer1306 Holliben Road, Severna Park, MD 21146
MassachusettsWilliams College33 Lab Campus Dr, Williamstown, MA 01267
MichiganHarbor Country Mission9600 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman, Michigan 49106
MississippiLynn Meadows Discovery CenterAttn: Heather Johnson
246 Dolan Ave., Gulfport, MS 39507
MissouriUniversity of Missouri,
Department of Physics and Astronomy
223 Physics Building, Columbia, MO 65211
MissouriCollection Node Volunteers1308 Green Mist Dr, Fenton, MO 63026
New HampshireNutfield Eye Associates43 Birch St., Derry, NH 03038
New HampshireGoodwin LibraryGoodwin Library, 422 Main St, Farmington, NH 03835
New JerseySummit Free Public Library75 Maple Street, Summit, NJ 07901
New JerseyOcean County Library101 Washington St, Toms River, NJ 08753
New YorkClifton Springs Y.M.C.A.Attention: Sarah Janas: 10 Crane Street, Clifton Springs, NY 14432
New YorkDepauville Free Library32333 County Route 179, Depauville, NY 13632
North CarolinaNorth Carolina School of Science and Mathematicsc/o Laura Baker Campbell
1219 Broad St., Durham, NC 27705
OhioAkron Summit County Public Library60 South High Street, Akron, Ohio 44326
OhioBowling Green City Schools1079 Fairview, Bowling Green, OH 43402
PennsylvaniaErie Retina Research300 State St, Erie, PA 16507
TexasColony Row CorpsP.O. Box 240, Brackettville, TX, 78832
TexasThe Eye Zone (Dr. David E. Weber, O.D.)11661 Preston Rd., Ste 145, Dallas, TX 75230
VermontChittenden Solid Waste District (C.S.W.D.), Administrative Office19 Gregory Drive, Suite 204, South Burlington, VT 05403
VirginiaMarymount University,
School of Sciences and Humanities
c/o Dr. Alice E Petillo

School of Sciences and Humanities

Marymount University

2807 N Glebe Road

Arlington VA 22207

VirginiaErin’s Elderberries4257 Aiken Drive, Warrenton, VA 20187
WashingtonWink Eyewear4854 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98118
Washington DCNational Capital AstronomersPlease contact: capitalastronomers@gmail.com
WisconsinBlanchardville LibraryPO Box 104, Blanchardville, WI 53516
WisconsinI.F.L.S. Library System1538 Truax Blvd., Eau Claire, WI 54703
Canada
OntarioBrant Family Eye Care130 Charing Cross St., Brantford, Ontario N3R 2J1
OntarioOntario Cardinal FestivalP.O. Box 849, Cardinal, Ontario K0E 1E0

The list is exhaustive*

Visit the Astronomers Without Borders collection center page to find a collection center near you!

 

Why should you donate eclipse glasses?

Donated eclipse glasses are helpful for students who can’t buy these resources. Various organizations carry out eclipse-watching camps where they can use the donated eclipse glasses to educate the people and make them experience the celestial wonder.

Nihal Sayyad

Nihal Sayyad is a space enthusiast, Digital journalist and Science Communicator. He loves writing about the universe and cosmos. He aims to raise awareness about fascinating subjects beyond our world and bring interesting and reliable content to his audience.

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