[Faith-Talk] serving and connection examples

[Ericka]

I agree that printing off some of those stories and sharing them when you are talking to Pastor, perhaps might go further than just emailing him and saying I want to do stuff and I need a ride. That would be so cool if you could actually read it and Braille to the pastor. it might give us some perspective. 

Ericka Nelson


> On Aug 10, 2024, at 1:02 PM, Ashley Bramlett via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Andrew and list,
> 
> 
> 
> It is important to serve. It shows our abilities and that we can give help,
> not just receive help.
> 
> Andrew, I hope you can overcome the barriers you have and find a way to
> serve.
> 
> 
> 
> As I said before, there are numerous articles about blind and low vision
> people serving.
> 
> Perhaps I need to write my own, too, once I serve more. Before the pandemic
> I volunteered two summers at a summer camp for low income children.
> 
> Right now, I am looking into volunteering for a food pantry, homeless
> shelter, nonprofit to keep the Chesepeake Bay clean, or tutor older kids.
> 
> 
> 
> Below are some links to articles.
> 
> I share these because they are great examples of service work in action.
> Some speak of accommodations and overcoming attitudes of the organization to
> fit in.
> 
> These articles could be printed and shared as well with organizations
> including the church to show that blind people are involved in the
> community.
> 
> 
> 
> The first two are by Jonathan Franks about giving a party for homeless
> children. Another story, which I found inspirational, is about a family
> helping out after a hurricane.
> 
> Another one is about Angela who volunteered with a homeless community.
> 
> 
> 
> Throwing a Party for Homeless Kids
> <https://nfbcommunityservice.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/throwing-a-party-for-t
> he-homeless-kids/>
> 
> 
> 
> Throwing a Party for the Homeless Kids Part 2
> <https://nfbcommunityservice.wordpress.com/2014/12/29/throwing-a-party-for-t
> he-homeless-kids-part-ii/>
> 
> 
> 
> My AmeriCorps Experience
> <https://nfbcommunityservice.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/my-americorps-experien
> ce/>  
> 
> This is by Serena Cucco who had a mother active in NFB Parents division.
> 
> Serena tells about her experience as a life skills advocate for a public
> defender's office.
> 
> 
> 
> AmeriCorps Vista Experience
> <https://nfbcommunityservice.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/americorps-vista-exper
> ience/>  
> 
> This is by Denyece Roberts who volunteered with AmeriCorps for two years as
> a coordinator for a youth transition program.
> 
> 
> 
> The Service Effect, How Helping the Community Develops Strong Leadership in
> Students
> <https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr31/3/fr310
> 313.htm>
> 
> This article is by Darian Smith who also volunteered in AmeriCorps. This is
> from Future Reflections in the Summer 2012 issue.
> 
> He worked outside on service projects.
> 
> 
> 
> Community Service For Fun, Friendship, and Future
> <https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr34/2/fr340
> 209.htm>
> 
> This article is also by Darian Smith who tells about
> 
> How to get involved in community service as a child or youth but the ideas
> can apply to most age groups; it also has an article within the article by
> Mary Church. This was from Future Reflections in the special issue in 2015.
> 
> 
> 
> Sharing Hope
> <https://nfbcommunityservice.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/sharing-hope/>
> 
> This is an article about a family volunteering to help after Hurricane
> Katrina and someone is blind in the family.
> 
> 
> 
> Philosophy in Practice
> <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm19/bm1910/bm191008.htm>
> 
> This article is by Angela Howard who tells her story about volunteering with
> homeless people at a nonprofit Called the Open Door. This was in the
> November 2019.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Baking Our Daily Bread
> <https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/books/kernel1/k
> ern1508.htm>
> 
> This article is by Barbara Pierce and part of a NFB Kernnel book which is a
> series of books about everyday experiences of blind people.
> 
> It mentions her baking talents were used to bake bread and buns for church.
> 
> 
> 
> A Maid of the Royal Court
> <https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/books/kernel1/k
> ern1504.htm>
> 
> This is by Julie Russel telling about her experience in the Mardi Gras
> parade. I assume she volunteered for this. Its also from a Kernel book.
> 
> 
> 
> Blindness No Obstacle for Church Choir Singer
> <https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2009/05/15/blindness-no-obstacle-
> for-church-choir-singer/30797351007/>
> 
> This is from the Wilmington Star; a part of local news. Its an older
> article, in 2009, but still relevant.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I hope this gives you some ideas of what blind people are doing. Most are
> written by the blind person themselves. You might even reach out to the
> author, Andrew, and ask for more information if something strikes a chord
> with you. Ask what techniques they used to do the tasks and more about how
> they overcame attitude barriers.
> 
> 
> 
> You say you do not know many blind people and it's a small town. But, you
> can simply chat via phone with someone or facetime if you have an IPhone or
> other IOS device or use a video service like zoom or Microsoft Teams.
> 
> 
> 
> I do not recommend email though because you cannot type correct sentences
> and most people will not understand your jumbled sentences. They often make
> little sense. I read it carefully to get a sense of what you meant though.
> 
> Also definitely try CNIB again; they might be helpful that next time.
> 
> 
> 
> HTH,
> 
> Ashley
> 
> 
> 
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