[Community-service] Getting one's hands dirty.

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi Darian,

I worked at a toy drive when I was younger and absolutely loved it.
We had to sort the toys and bring them to different places in the
office building where they had been collected.  It was an awesome task
for a blind person, since many of the toys were identifiable by touch,
and after a few turns around the building, navigating it wasn't hard
at all.

It was easy for me to do this service activity because I had a friend
who encouraged me to jump in.  Since I knew her, everyone pretty much
left me alone.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case for people.
 The hardest thing about community service projects like these(and
food sorting, preparing, etc) is that they require the blind person to
somehow, magically know what to do.  We can't see, and this doesn't
limit us from doing the work, but it does limit us from knowing at a
glance what work should be done.  Not a problem if the other people
around you want you to participate and give you something to do, but I
know that's not always the case.  Thankfully, toys were easy to work
with.  There was virtually no way to mess them up or break them.  But
it is possible to mess up when dealing with food or paints.  It's a
bit harder to just jump in and stick your hands in things, though that
is definitely tempting.

What do you think?

On 1/7/14, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
>   I’ve been thinking about  the concept of collection projects such as  food
> drives, toy drives and so-on and their benefits to community and self.
>  I like the idea of collection drives in that if you identify a worthy
> charity you can make a difference in a person/family/community’s quality of
> life.
>
>  I’ve found that hands-on  projects  such as preparing  food to be served,
> organizing  food that will be donated out, educating the community on issues
> that impact  that area, tutoring ,  painting / beautifying a building  has
> it’s own impacts in that not only does it better the community, but  the
> people involved  gain skills and confidence that allow them to share what
> they have learned, inspire them to  continue service and make long -lasting
> connections.  that may lead to to employment among other things.
>
>   Because  a chief issue plaguing blindness is not so  much blindness it’s
> self, but the widespread misunderstandings  people have of it.
>  how can we use such a potentially powerful tool as service  to start to
> make real headway in changing those misunderstandings and opening doors to
> employment, friendship and  collaborations?
>  how does such a thing get done via the  afore mentioned drives or the
> hands-on work?
>
>  thoughts?
>     Darian
>
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-- 
Julie McG
National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16