LOUISVILLE, KY. – In January 2023, the ReSpectacle Louisville Chapter joined forces with the University of Louisville School of Medicine and Goodwill Industries of Kentucky to launch a pilot program aimed at improving access to affordable eyewear for underserved communities. Due to the program’s success, this partnership has been renewed until 2028, allowing for continued expansion of services and community outreach.
The collaboration leverages Goodwill’s logistical network to streamline the collection and distribution of eyeglasses, supporting both Goodwill’s mission and ReSpectacle’s goal to provide clear vision for all. The initiative has successfully processed and redirected nearly 20,000 pairs of glasses.
“Our collaboration with the University of Louisville’s ReSpectacle Chapter has been a textbook example of how outcomes of mission can be exponentially grown when two agencies proactively collaborate and combine their strengths and talents toward a common goal,” said Mark Daniel, Goodwill vice president of operations.
Each month, ReSpectacle student volunteers gather to sort, clean, log, and photograph donated glasses for distribution to ReSpectacle, Goodwill, and similar organizations. The chapter now includes undergraduate students interested in medicine, offering them volunteer opportunities and mentorship from medical students. The ReSpectacle Louisville Chapter was founded in Fall 2022 by Lily Wilding during her second year at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Brandon Chou, also a second-year medical student at U of L, is the co-president.
In addition to distributing glasses, the ReSpectacle Louisville Chapter fosters community engagement through health fairs and outreach events. These initiatives provide various services, including the distribution of free sunglasses and resources to obtain affordable prescription glasses. Participants are also given contact information to connect with the University of Louisville ophthalmology department for routine eye care.
“Being part of this partnership and watching it grow has been incredibly rewarding,” Wilding said. “It’s more than redistributing glasses—it’s about organizations coming together to break down barriers and create real change in our community.”
To learn more about Goodwill’s mission, click here. For more information about ReSpectacle and its ongoing efforts, click here.
About Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is a 101-year-old nonprofit organization that operates in 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The organization is committed to using resources from its 67 retail stores to help build pathways out of poverty for individuals who need a hand up in life. In 2023, Goodwill helped place 3,185 Kentuckians into jobs with its 1,330 employer partners and inside its own retail stores. Goodwill uses approximately 90 cents from every dollar generated in its retail stores to operate programs and services that help Kentucky’s hardest-to-serve job seekers build the life they desire.
About ReSpectacle and the ReSpectacle Louisville Chapter
ReSpectacle is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 to harness the power of the internet to redistribute high-quality, used prescription eyeglasses to underserved communities worldwide. Headquartered in Hudson, WI, ReSpectacle operates through local chapters across the country, primarily led by undergraduate and graduate student groups. Donated glasses collected by these chapters are processed and sent to headquarters, where they are made available online for just $6.99—a fraction of the cost of new prescription eyewear.
The ReSpectacle Louisville Chapter was founded in Fall 2022 by Lily Wilding during her second year at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, with the support of faculty member and retinal specialist Dr. Shorye Durrett. The chapter was established in response to significant eye health disparities in Kentucky and across the U.S., particularly the lack of eye care coverage, which limits access to preventive eye exams. These exams are essential for detecting and managing conditions like myopia, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts before they lead to irreversible vision loss.