ROCHESTER, N.Y. — We aren’t going to need solar eclipse glasses in Rochester for another 120 years, and we didn’t really need them on eclipse day either.

But around the world, there are between two and five eclipses each year. So, some local businesses are collecting these for donations.

Nenos Gourmet Mexican is one of several spots in Rochester taking unwanted eclipse glasses off your hands.

A few days before April 8 they made a call on social media letting people know that they’ll be shipping glasses down to South America for the annular eclipse this October.

For Neno’s owners, the Rita family, they’re excited to be able to give back to that area. Ojayra Rita says growing up in Mexico eclipse glasses are too expensive for most people.

“We remember that one day we got an eclipse over there, but how we get to see is just in a bucket of water. And we see through the water.”

Through April 15, they’ll be taking donations. The donations will be shipped via Eclipse Glasses USA, a business that gets ISO-certified glasses in the hands of students worldwide.

“To help you know others and schools especially, cause it’s part of education. You know? And we don’t have the opportunity ourselves,” said Rita.

They’ll be helping hundreds of students across South and Latin America, thanks to a delivery from Fischer Backflow. Employee Joshua Stokes dropped off several boxes his company had purchased.

“It was a little bit disappointing, you know, I was hoping to get some cool pictures with my phone and to see the eclipse, but I think that because it was such a unique event even though I wasn’t exactly seeing it to see how dark it got outside and then it gets bright again, you know, it all felt really significant and I really enjoyed it.”

If April 8 moved you or disappointed you, the next total solar eclipse will be in 2026. And that will be moving across the Northern Hemisphere.

Neno’s Gourmet Mexican Street Food is located at 642 Monroe Ave. and 695 Park Ave.