The historic eclipse has come and gone in Michigan, and the prep leading up for some resembled a small wedding it seems with travel and fanfare. For most, getting ready for the "big event" was as simple as scoring a pair of specialty eclipse glasses for safe viewing, but what the heck do you do with them now?

Just moments after the sky went back to normal, social media was flooded with comical comments and memes about "for sale, gently used glasses", or "how do a make an Amazon return", but truth be told...there is something you can do with those unique peeper and make a difference at the same time.

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Michigan's Dow Gardens posted to social media that they are collecting those "used" eclipse glasses for a special program benefiting children on the other side of the world. In a post, the Midland botanical garden announced they would be collecting glasses to be sent to school children in South America who will be experiencing their eclipse on October 2, 2024.

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Dow Gardens will be accepting glasses through April 19th at the front desk of their location a1809 Eastman Avenue during normal business hours. Once collected, the glasses will be shipped to a whole new group of children ready to experience the wonder of astronomy. The special program is part of a larger one established by Eclipse Glasses USA.

If you can't make it to Dow Gardens to donate your glasses, you can pop them in the mail to: Eclipse Glasses USA at PO Box 50571 Provo, UT 84605. Make sure the glasses are packed properly and in good condition without damage. Get all the information here.

Donating your eclipse glasses isn't just an act of generosity; it's a gift to the future of science education and exploration. So, dust off those glasses, give them a second chance to inspire and let's spread the wonder of the cosmos across the globe.

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