[nabs-l] Blind people doing community service

Mon May 21 12:52:28 UTC 2012

Joshua ,
  I am sure there are programs  in your area  that you can get involved   with.  I think you have to look at  things that interest you and go from there.  If it is something that you want to do, but you don't know if a blind person has done it ask around or just kind of  figure it out as you go. 
 One good resource is www.serve.gov. There you can look at oppertunities in your local area and get involved there.  
  I hope this helps,
  Darian 

Sent from my iPhone

On May 20, 2012, at 5:46 PM, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:

> My community service benefits sighted residents, at the nursing home, as well.
> There's only that one blind lady there.
> BTW, I'm also interested in hosting a festival, on Labor Day weekend,
> to benifit the MDA, because of 2 individuals, who suffer from Muscular
> Distrophy.
> I've also helped raise money for the hospital, through concerts.
> Like I said, I know it isn't much, it's something.
> We don't have as many programs, like Darion participated in, here in
> Rural Arkansas.
> Blessings, Joshua
> 
> On 5/20/12, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Darian,
>> Yes, yes. I think most community service is done with groups of regular
>> sighted people. If we limit ourselves to doing it with blind friends or a
>> blindness group like NFB, that is really limiting. Community service is to
>> serve the community wich usually means the broader community. That said,
>> I've faced some barriers in getting work so far and I hope its easier for
>> others looking. A barrier is that there is just so many volunteers now with
>> 
>> people getting laid off or looking for work; like me, they figure volunteer
>> 
>> experience is a means to network and benefit the community while getting
>> professional experience.
>> Another barrier I've found is that the coordinators of nonprofits don't call
>> 
>> back as they must be real busy or they don't follow up with you probably
>> because they know it will say take longer to train you with their database
>> or something. I was going to volunteer at the library foundation, a
>> nonprofit supporting the public library and the coordinator said all the
>> right things and asked me to stuff tote bags for some fundraiser. I did and
>> 
>> enjoyed it. However she did not follow up with me for more office work even
>> 
>> though she said the right things in the interview. If I  want to help at a
>> school event, I feel marginalized. Sometimes they simply say "oh we got
>> things under control" even though I know they could use a hand. For
>> instance, at the fundraiser dinner/auction for the global charity project
>> club I was in, that is what they said. I helped the club raise money for the
>> 
>> charity, but not much in the event. Of course, I've had positive experiences
>> 
>> too. For example I gave out candy during halloween fest at school; that is
>> where we had the low income kids come in and trick or treat the dorms. And
>> then I helped campus ministry stuff backpacks for catrina school children
>> victims. There are more of course, but seems like it can be frustrating to
>> find a niche in service work.
>> 
>> Ashley
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Darian Smith
>> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 4:03 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Blind people doing community service
>> 
>> Hi all,
>>  I know  I have been pretty quite on the list  as of late, but I
>> figure I should add my two cents.
>> 
>> Obviously, any way you  can use your talents and skills to  better  a
>> community of any sort is  a very good thing and is considered
>> "community Service".
>> 
>> This is my personal feeling, but I think it would be great if we
>> challanged ourselvesa little bit and tried to take our talents and use
>> them to benifitnot just the blind.
>> I am a big fan of non-blindness based community service.
>>  As enough people probably know I dida ten-month service term  in
>> AmeriCorps.  I think  I have learned so much from that time, and I
>> reminded myself that in order to be considered a part of society, I
>> really should do service work shoulder to shoulder with my sighted
>> peers.
>>  I learned so much about myself, the country, and the issues we face
>> in some places.
>> 
>> Just some thoughts, and I would be intereste  in hearing yours.
>>  Take care,
>>  Darian
>> 
>> On 5/18/12, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
>>> I think this counts, but I'm a musician, as everyone here knows.
>>> I go out to the nursing homes, to entertain the residents, with
>>> uplifting Gospel music.
>>> I know it's not much, but I'm doing what I can, in this community.
>>> This is also blindness related, because I'm assisting a blind
>>> resident, who has finally decided, that she wants to learn Braille!
>>> Woohoo!
>>> I've talked about her, on another list.
>>> We need to do outreaches like this, as blind people, to make people
>>> more aware of us, and our issues.
>>> Also, when the sighted individuals see that blindness isn't something
>>> that keeps us from doing what we want to do, their perceptions of us
>>> will change!
>>> I'd like to know what all you guys are doing, to serve your community!
>>> Thanks, Joshua
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Darian Smith
>> 
>> "To dream what is possible and to put oneself in service of that dream is
>> the
>> formula
>> for a life well lived."
>> 
>> - Dr. Peter Benson
>> 
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