Gratitude for the Sacramento Community

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” – Melodie Beattie, author

As fall sets in, it is a nice time to pause and take stock of all that has transpired over the past several months – and I think you will agree A LOT has transpired!

I have been truly amazed and am deeply grateful for the Sacramento community’s incredible support of Society for the Blind. Thanks to each of you, we have been able to keep our classes up and running remotely. In fact, we have waiting lists for classes. Our online and telephone-based support groups have seen an uptick in attendance.

Core Program manager, Paul Gray, assisting a Core student using Zoom while working from home.

Last month, you heard that our building was vandalized for the second time in just three months. The support from the community has been outstanding. Your generosity will enable us to make the necessary repairs and replace the van that was stolen.

Your support touches many lives and gives people with vision loss a renewed sense of hope, even in these challenging times. Keeping connected with one another is crucial as many of our clients live alone. I want to share with you a few of the comments we received recently from clients in our Senior IMPACT Project Coffee and Connect support group:

I like meeting new people and we can stay in contact more than once a month. I look forward to it. When you live alone, it gets really bad. So, this is amazing for me.

 I have really enjoyed the virtual meetings. It gives me a chance to learn about others. I enjoy the comradery. I enjoy listening to others. It makes me feel not alone in this big world. Once things get back to normal, I hope that we can still have virtual meetings. I appreciate your friendship and support.

Braille instructor, Jill Guilbeau, creating Braille lessons while working from home.

 I am amazed at the services that are available through Society. I have met several people who have pointed out resources. I am so grateful. I have only been with the Senior IMPACT Project for 6 months. I love what I have been a part of and look forward to continuing.

Being connected and having a sense of community, albeit a virtual one for now, gives our clients a renewed sense of hope. Thank You for helping our clients find some peace for today and a vision for their tomorrows.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving later this month, know that all of us at Society for the Blind are thankful for your support and wish you and your loved ones a safe and healthy holiday.