[nabs-l] volunteering and missions

Wed Dec 23 22:25:29 UTC 2009

Ashley,
I have worked at a concessions stand for Habitat before. The money
from the food went directly to the organization and I got to listen to
concerts at the same time. I've also done work in animal shelters
during their adoption days. You basically just handle the dogs and
keep them as well behaved as possible while people come and interact
with them to see whether or not they'd like to adopt them. If you are
interested  in building for habitat then you should contact some of
the industrial arts teachers at the NFB training centers to find out
some alternative techniques that other blind people use.

Best Wishes,
Domonique

On 12/22/09, Mark J. Cadigan <kramc11 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I use power tools all the time. The only thing is you just got to figure out
> a system that is safe and works for you. Don’t get discouraged. There is
> always a way.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Albert Yoo" <albertyoo1 at hotmail.com>
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 8:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] volunteering and missions
>
>
>
> Ashley, I remember using the hand sander in shop class at the Louisiana
> Center for the blind. I remember how the wood would be smooth around the
> edges after going over the edges with the hand sander. This is if I remember
> the tools correctly. Is this what the hand sander is used for to keep the
> edges of the wood smooth? I remember cutting wood. that you had to be
> careful the piece would not come back and hit you in the face. You had to
> make the piece of wood was secure before you started cutting the wood. This
> is what I remember learning in shop class at the Louisiana Center for the
> blind. Any one else who took shop class at the louisiana center for the
> blind would have different experiences
>
>> From: bookwormahb at earthlink.net
>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:32:05 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] volunteering and missions
>>
>> Hi Darian,
>>
>> There is a need to reach out in our own country and overseas. Financially
>> its easier to start in the US.
>>
>> That's great you were part of a construction project. How many did you
>> work
>> with? You say you did some painting. What did you paint? Do you have any
>> vision? I think that would be helpful to keep track of what you're
>> painting.
>>
>> Alabama and Texas are quite different places. Was this part of a mission
>> or
>> what sort of purpose was it for?
>> What did you use the hand sander for? I've heard of it but know little
>> about it. Did you find yourself doing things differently than your sighted
>> workers? I would think not; you'd just have to feel a little more and
>> listen. Any of you cut wood for construction?
>>
>> This is interesting.
>>
>> Merry Christmas.
>>
>> Ashley
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Darian Smith" <dsmithnfb at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 6:46 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] volunteering and missions
>>
>>
>> > Hi all,
>> > Robert: I think what you've done is nothing small, there are many
>> > people who might not flinch at the prospect of going overseas as
>> > they may not find the need there ( people don't see the need in this
>> > country, in their citys or around them. Of course site has nothing to
>> > do with it, people just don't take the time to make themselves aware
>> > of what is lacking in our situations/other situations and realize
>> > that they are more empowered to do than they even think they are
>> > themselves.
>> >
>> > Ashley: habitat builds are things I would love to do. I served in
>> > the national civilian community corps (An AmeriCorps program) and
>> > did some environmental work in colorado; building trails and clearing
>> > wood (halling slash). I also did construction work as a part of a
>> > project in south Texas and was a part of a constructional
>> > restoration project in central Alabama. In both alabama and texas, I
>> > used your Standardhammer and nail gun. I also used a hand sander and
>> > painted. Using powertools or even simple hand tools arn't very
>> > difficult; you just have to get the hang of it. My understanding of
>> > habitat builds are that they do train people before they do take on
>> > the job so if you don't know, it's okay because you arn't the only
>> > person knowing.
>> > Best,
>> > Darian
>> >
>> > On 12/21/09, Robert Jaquiss <rjaquiss at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> >> Hello Ashley:
>> >>
>> >> About all I was able to do in Dominica was to deliver a brailler to
>> >> a
>> >> deaf-blind girl, send a few books and eventually arrange for three
>> >> people
>> >> to
>> >> come to the 1999 NFB convention. I regret that I was unable to do more.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> I am totally blind and have been so from birth. About all I did for
>> >> roofing our house, was to help carry up the eighty pound bundles of
>> >> shingles. As for tool use, my Father showed me how to use tools. When
>> >> hammering, I hold the nail betwene thumb and finger and hit the head
>> >> with
>> >> the hammer. Once the nail is started, it is possible with practice to
>> >> keep
>> >> hitting it. You could also use a pair of pliers to hold the nail. The
>> >> sound
>> >> of a nail being hammered changes as it goes into the wood. I have not
>> >> worked
>> >> with concrete or bricks. I am not sure its a good idea to get concrete
>> >> on
>> >> hands for an extended period of time. As a blind person, I do want to
>> >> be
>> >> careful of my hands and not get calluses especially on my fingers. This
>> >> would make reading braille awkward.
>> >>
>> >> Merry Christmas,
>> >>
>> >> Robert
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>> >> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> >> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 2:08 PM
>> >> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] volunteering and missions
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> Hi Robert,
>> >>>
>> >>> Thanks for sharing your experience. I figured this was doable; after
>> >>> all
>> >>> it seems a pretty tactual thing.
>> >>>
>> >>> What did you do to help the blind population in
>> >>> Dominica? That is a poor island so I imagine much needed to be done
>> >>> including getting them supplies.
>> >>>
>> >>> That is impressive you assisted your father and helped on a church
>> >>> trip.
>> >>> Have you always been blind? I have some central vision, but would do
>> >>> this
>> >>>
>> >>> sort of thing nonvisually because its safer.
>> >>>
>> >>> For the roofing did you do anything differently other than use your
>> >>> sense
>> >>> of touch? Have you mixed and laid concrete or bricks?
>> >>>
>> >>> How did you learn this stuff? Did someone show you? How do you hammer?
>> >>> You can touch the nail but cannot do so while you are hammering. Maybe
>> >>> you check your progress with your free hand after hammering a little
>> >>> bit.
>> >>> I am in VA and Baltimore is near me; maybe I'll contact that chapter
>> >>> for
>> >>> tips if I have the opportunity to do a mission or Habitat house.
>> >>>
>> >>> BTW I am also a United Methodist. What a coinsidence. My home church
>> >>> sends a mission team each summer to help repair buildings on the
>> >>> Lokota
>> >>> Indian reservation. I am not into going overseas, at least not now.
>> >>> There is enough to keep me busy in America.
>> >>>
>> >>> Ashley
>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>> >>> From: "Robert Jaquiss" <rjaquiss at earthlink.net>
>> >>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> >>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> >>> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 11:01 PM
>> >>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] volunteering and missions
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>> Hello Ashley:
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I have done some volunteer and missions work. I am currently the
>> >>>> Missions chairman for Faith United Methodist Church in West Monroe,
>> >>>> Louisiana. One Saturday each month, I help distribute food as part of
>> >>>> our
>> >>>>
>> >>>> work with Angel Food Ministries. As the Missions Chairman, I also
>> >>>> deal
>> >>>> with a small budget and hold periodic meetings.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> When I lived in Oregon, I went with a church group to help
>> >>>> winterize
>> >>>> a house. I am familiar with the use of hand tools and I installed
>> >>>> screw
>> >>>> on weather stripping which included a bottom door gasket. We also
>> >>>> installed plastic sheeting on the inside of the windows and I got the
>> >>>> difficult window that had an airconditioner in it.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> In 1996, I went by myself on a short trip to the Commonwealth of
>> >>>> Dominica to investigate the needs of the blind living on that island.
>> >>>> It
>> >>>> was quite an experience and I was able to provide a little help.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> If I recall correctly, members of the Greater Baltimore chapter of
>> >>>> the NFB helped install vinyl siding on a Habitat for Humanity house.
>> >>>> The
>> >>>> report I heard was that they did a very good job.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> My thoughts on this sort of work are that doing some planning is a
>> >>>> good thing. Learn how to use hand tools. We can certainly hammer
>> >>>> nails,
>> >>>> drive screws, cut boards etc. I have installed a garbage disposal,
>> >>>> kitchen sink faucets, a new bathroom sink and cabinet including all
>> >>>> the
>> >>>> plumbing. When I was twelve, I laid the decking for an eight by
>> >>>> twenty-one foot deck. I have helped my Father roof a house and also
>> >>>> helped with other maintenance. In case you wonder, I am totally
>> >>>> blind.
>> >>>> If
>> >>>>
>> >>>> you want to go overseas, I suggest trying a domestic opportunity
>> >>>> first.
>> >>>> Go with an organization that has a good track record and experienced
>> >>>> leadership. Study about where you want to go, learn about the
>> >>>> culture,
>> >>>> the food eaten etc. Of course learning a foreign language is also
>> >>>> helpful. Hope this helps.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Merry Christmas,
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Robert Jaquiss
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> ----- Original Message -----
>> >>>> From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>> >>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> >>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>> Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2009 8:01 PM
>> >>>> Subject: [nabs-l] volunteering and missions
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> Hi all,
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> This list is sure quiet. I was thinking this is the time of giving
>> >>>>> around the holidays. Have you participated in an outreach project?
>> >>>>> Anyone done Habitat for Humanity and if so what did you do and what
>> >>>>> alternative techniques did you use? Can we hammer and drill safely?
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> For those of you who are religious, have you been on mission trips?
>> >>>>> I
>> >>>>> would like to do that someday. So far I have been to a shelter to
>> >>>>> serve
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> lunch with my church. I have volunteered for the talking book
>> >>>>> library
>> >>>>> and political campaigns. So what are you all doing lately? I hope to
>> >>>>> hear someone has done Habitat because that is something I am
>> >>>>> interested
>> >>>>> in but I don't know how I can contribute. I think I could paint and
>> >>>>> mix and lay concrete outside. Look forward to your responses.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Ashley
>> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>
>> >>>
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>> >>
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>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
>> > recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
>> > individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
>> > help! To Get Involved go to:
>> > www.TeachBlindStudents.org
>> >
>> >
>> > "And if you will join me in this improbable quest, if you feel destiny
>> > calling, and see as I see, a future of endless possibility stretching
>> > before us;
>> > if you sense, as I sense, that the time is now to shake off our
>> > slumber, and slough off our fear, and make good on the debt we owe
>> > past and future generations,
>> > then I'm ready to take up the cause, and march with you, and work with
>> > you. Together, starting today, let us finish the work that needs to be
>> > done, and
>> > usher in a new birth of freedom on this Earth."- Baraq Obama
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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