An Abundance of Gratitude and Joy

“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”  ~David Steindl Rast

As the season changes and fall comes to life in all its splendor and abundant color, it’s a good time to reflect on the abundance of generosity and kindness you, our friends, volunteers, donors and community partners, have shown to Society for the Blind.

2021 may not have turned out quite the way we all imagined, yet there is so much for which we are grateful at Society for the Blind. We are thankful for the time, talent and resources that play such a vital role in our ability to offer remote classes, support groups, telehealth for low vision eye care and so much more. Throughout the year, hundreds of hours of volunteer time were provided by readers for Access News, ensuring that our clients throughout the 27 counties we serve stayed informed.

The generosity of those who provide philanthropic donations and in-kind support ensures we have funding to respond to the increase in requests for services for all of our programs. Remote access to blindness skills training, senior services and after-school tutoring for youth make it possible for so many more people to get the help they need to adapt to vision loss.

Joy abounds as we experience the many successes of our clients during this challenging year. Several clients found jobs after completing their classes remotely. Another client learned how to use Excel and SharePoint using screen reading software so he could collaborate in real time with his co-workers. In our senior program, instructors witnessed the joy of older adults learning how to download Zoom and get connected – not just to our support groups but also to visit remotely with their families during the pandemic.

At Society for the Blind, we know that when we come together to support and encourage one another, hope is rekindled. We are grateful for your generosity of time, talent and resources that generates so much hope for the people we serve. 

From all of us at Society for the Blind, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and be assured of our gratitude for each of you.