Vermont Association for the Blind and
Visually Impaired (VABVI)

Community Outreach Opportunities

Volunteer

Time and again people ask, "what can we do that would make a difference in a blind person's life?" Or, "is there anything we can do that would help!" The answer to both of these questions is an unequivocal "yes" there are many ways you can make a difference and "yes" you can help.

The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired operates under the simple premise that client's needs come first. In conjunction with that, all training and support services at VABVI are provided without charge, so that no one is denied access to necessary training, or services, due to financial constraints.

Volunteers make a world of difference in the lives of our 1,300+ clients, who come from all fourteen counties in the state. The inability to drive is the most significant limiting aspect of blindness, but with the help of a crew of dedicated volunteers, VABVI is able to provide transportation to our clients.

If you, or someone you know, would like to receive great rewards beyond financial compensation, please consider volunteering your time to serve blind and visually impaired Vermonters. VABVI is always looking for drivers, typists, readers, persons willing to provide companionship, or able to stuff envelopes. Perhaps you like to file or provide office support. Ways that you can volunteer are:

• Driving: Our drivers put in thousands of hours and drive hundreds of thousands of miles every year, helping visually impaired people get to medical appointments, VABVI Peer Assisted Learning and Support (PALS) meetings, community and personal activities, shopping, and many other destinations.
• Office Assistance: We have volunteers who help us convert printed material into large print, Braille and audiotapes. And many come to our offices and help with mailings, and other administrative duties.
• Reading: Others help people read and sort their mail, or just make "friendly visits," taking them out for strolls, etc.
• Helping at Meetings: We also have a number of volunteers who help with PALS groups, or children's programming.

If you can spare time, doing any (or all!) of these activities, please contact one of our volunteer coordinators for more information:

• Brattleboro: De Haskell at (877) 350-8840 extension 90; dhaskell@vabvi.org
• Burlington: Lori Newsome at (800) 639-5861 extension 11; lnewsome@vabvi.org
• Montpelier: Susan Desjardins at (877) 350-8838 extension 70; sdesjardins@vabvi.org
• Rutland: Peg Andrews at (877) 350-8839 extension 86; mandrews@vabvi.org

Make a Difference

You also can help today by sending in your tax-deductible contribution to help support training and services for blind and visually impaired Vermonters. And, you can be confident that one hundred percent of your gift stays in Vermont, helping Vermonters. Send your tax-deductible gift to VABVI, 37 Elmwood Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401.

Local Business - Team Players - Reaching Out to the Community

During our successful, first-ever, capital campaign the Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired raised more than $500,000 for the Montpelier-based Central Vermont Mini Center. Nearly $80,000 came from the local business community underscoring their commitment to services, training, and support for Vermonters coping with vision loss.

This win-win situation for both the consumer and the community effectively conveys the importance the business community places on these services, while providing affirmation to visually impaired friends and neighbors that they, too, have something to contribute to the economic vitality of the community. One goal, as conveyed by VABVI consumers, is that they receive the training they need to become "contributing members to society and not a burden to it."

Thank you, and for those of you who would like additional information on how to be more effective in your outreach to visually impaired Vermonters consider this:

• Invite a speaker in to educate employees on what they can do to make a difference.
• Provide the time and encouragement for employees to take advantage of volunteer opportunities.
• Offer to match employee contributions.
• Set a positive example as a community player by making an annual fund donation.

Whatever you do, the message sent and being received is that you are truly committed to a stronger community for everyone. Your business will become known, like those listed below, as one that reaches out to the community. Consider adding your name to this list.

Contact Ayeshah Raftery at araftery@vabvi.org or 1-800-639-5861 extension 24 for more information.

Thank you to the following 165 businesses for their community outreach. Why not add your name to the list?

Lakeshore Dr., Inc. Agency of Natural Resources Alpina Sports Corp. Anderson-Friberg Co., Inc. Associated Insurance Agencies Associates in Eyecare Astra Apartments Avenue Grocery Banknorth Vermont Bannister Automotive, Inc. Barre Optical Bast Corp. Beck & Bellucci, Inc. Bennington Housing Authority Berg, Carmolli & Kent Insurance Berg, Carmolli & Kent Real Estate Bethel Mills Inc. BlueCross BlueShield VT Bolton Valley Resort BP Foundation Inc. Brattleboro S & L Assn. Briggs-Fowler Ins Agency Britton Lumber Bruno Associates, Inc., P.C. Burlington International Airport Burton Snowboards Cabot Cooperative Inc. Cabot Creamery Central VT Public Service Century 21, Mill Stone Agency Champlain Dental Lab, Inc. Champlain Hardwoods Champlain Valley Eyecare Chittenden Bank Citizens Savings Bank & Trust Co. Community National Bank Community of Vermont Elders, Inc Concept II, Inc. Cooper Insurance Services Co-operative Insurance Companies Crestmark Cross Refrigeration Currier's Market Curtis Britch Funeral Home David H. Greenberg, Esq. Derby Village Store Ed Colvin Realty, Inc. Edlund Company, Inc. Eley Management Associates Ellis Music Company Ethan Allen, Inc. Eye Care of Vermont Farrell Distributing FireProTec Firetech Sprinkler Corp. G.S. Blodgett Co. G.S. Precision G.W. Plastics Gallagher Flynn & Co. Gene A. Beshaw & Associates Gero Brothers Movers Goodrich Corporation Goss Dodge, Inc. Gravel & Shea, Inc. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Green Mountain Video Green Mtn. Power Corporation Hackett, Valine and MacDonald HallKeen Management, Inc. Hannaford #301 Hanson Investment Mgt. Hazelett Strip-Casting Henry's Diner Hickok & Boardman Holiday Inn Huber & Suhner Corporation Hutchins Roofing Co. IBM Microelectronics Mask House Itracks International J.B. Kennedy Associates J.G. Architects Jacobs, Morrissette, Marchand & Assoc.

Jet Service Envelope Co KeyBank Kid's Town Killington Resort Klinger's Bread Company KPMG Peat Marwick Lackey's Store Lake Champlain Chocolates Lake Champlain Shoreline Cruises Lane Press, Inc. Littleton Coin Company lname MacLean, Meehan & Rice Mad River Glen Magee Office Plus Manghi's Bread Manosh Corporation Mascoma Savings Bank Middlesex Mutual Assurance Co. MMG Insurance Company Morse Farm Sugar Works Moulton's Spectacle Shoppe Mousetrap Pediatrics, P.C. Mulkin Corporation Munson Earth Moving Corporation Mylan Technologies, Inc. NAIFA Neuse, Smith & Venman New England Air Systems, Inc. New England Culinary Institute Northfield Savings Bank O'Donnell Enterprises Okemo Mountain Resort Optical Expressions Parizo's Champlain Valley Eye Care Passumpsic Savings Bank Paul, Frank, & Collins, Inc. Peach of Mind Emporium Peking Garden Restaurant Pomerleau Real Estate PT Financial Services Randolph National Bank Ready Funeral Home Rehabilitation Outpatient Center RJ's Friendly Market Rock of Ages Corporation Roy Insurance Agency Rutland Optical, Inc. Sam Frank, Inc. SD Ireland Concrete Construction Corp Selectronics Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc. Shelburne Museum Shoreham Telephone Company,Inc. Sixty Nine Swift Street Associates Sleeping Bear Custom Woodworking Smugglers' Notch Southworth-Milton, Inc. Sugarbush Ski Resort Telesensory The Braverman Company The Essex Agency The Meadows at East Mountain The Optical Center Theriault & Joslin PC Topnotch at Stowe Tortilla Flats Tossing Funeral Home Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Reg. Comm. Union Bank Union Mutual Fire Ins. Co. Valley Motor Sales, Inc. Vermont Country Store Vermont Gas Systems Vermont Life Magazine Vermont Mutual Group Vermont Outdoors Magazine Vermont Roofing Company, Inc. Village Optician Williston Family Eyecare Williston Golf Club York Capacitor Corporation