[NFB-Idaho] Come and Support the NFB of Idaho fundraiser coming up on giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024

[Shane Ostermeier]



 Our affiliate needs your support.


Dana Ard, President

1320 E. Washington

Boise, ID 83712

(208) 345-3906

Pres.nfbidaho at gmail.com




Dear members and friends,

As your affiliate president, in this season of Thanks Giving, I invite and
encourage you to attend a special Zoom meeting, Tuesday evening, December
3rd at 7:00 MST (6:00) PST, entitled, "Invest in Our Future." The purpose of
this meeting is to raise funds for our state affiliate. We need these funds
in order to continue to invest in the future for blind people in Idaho. At
this event, we will hear from some of those impacted by the programs we
provide. We will learn how these programs are helping them invest in their
future as blind people.

Contributions can be made either on our affiliate website,
<http://www.nfbidaho.org/donate> www.nfbidaho.org/donate, or by mailing a
check to our treasurer, Don Winiecki at 1422 E. Woodvine Ct, Boise, ID.
83706. Let's give so that our state affiliate can continue our valuable
programs to help Idaho's blind live the lives they want. Please call or
email with questions. 


One of the key programs that your contributions will make possible is the
BELL and Beyond Academy, a residential camp for blind and visually impaired
children aged from 7 through 17. It takes place in McCall each summer and
changes lives. See below for a perspective from a parent and participant:


My son and I attended the BELL and Beyond camp in McCall this past July.  It
was absolutely fantastic.  I really appreciated the camp directors allowing
me to accompany Alex because he has mobility and other needs outside of
being blind.   Their willingness to accommodate Alex allowed him to
participate in camp for the first time at 16 years old, even being in a
wheelchair.  His experience at camp allowed him to get out of his "normal"
routine and opened his world up to new and exciting opportunities. 

Alex had a very hard time choosing his favorite memory and narrowing it down
to just a few.  He said, "My favorite part of camp was swimming, learning
how to kayak, bonfires, smores, signing, talent show, learning new songs,
being a pig in the play, Braille classes, table dismissal, meeting new
friends and hanging out with old friends every day."  He also said, "I hope
to go back next year!"

I liked how the camp incorporated educational and recreational activities
and made them fun for the kids.  The counselors made Alex feel included in
all the activities and didn't predetermine what he was able to do.  That was
very important to Alex.

We hope that you will choose to support the BELL and Beyond Camp to allow
children to have similar confidence, educational and relationship building
experiences that are so vital to our children.  It is so important to bring
blind and low vision children together to promote growth and friendship in
their lives, which can be hard to find in their individual cities.

Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Fawn Owens