Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 10, 1987, edition 1 / Page 6
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CLOSE-UP Outer-Sighters: Blii By ANGIE MARTIN Chronicla Staff Writer An intimate group of holiday celebrants gathers around a cheerfully decorated table of Christmas cookies and punch. The red Kool-aid and ginger ale mixture swirls in the Crystal punch bowl. Someone gently bumped into the edge of the table. "Let's say the blessing now, you all, we have a lot to be thankful for," said Sandy Penn, city recreation department visually impaired program leader. The group is indeed thankful; never mind that the refreshments are modest and some of the tree ornaments are a little crooked Many of them can't see the Christmas tree lights or the person whose hand they are holding as they bow "Sometimes the sighted world treats blind people differently but I wish the sighted would treat blind people like people -- Roy Townsend their heads in prayer. Many must take care to keep their red and white canes nearby. But, more than anything else members of the Outer-Sighters are thankful that they have each other and the Christmas party is just another good reason to get together. The Outer-Sighters is a group of 18 visually impaired residents, either partially or completely blind. They range from young adults to elderly citizens. And although there are several social service programs for the blind in the city^ there are few social clubs for visually handicapped citizens. Penn, who is sighted, is an integral part of the Outer-Sighters. She began her association with the Outer-Sighters nearly four years ago is a volunteers Since July she has been a program leader for the I { TO"^AY?EC1? Open Home from 2 to 4 pjn. Free goo ' : ?ty end fiice pebtintirtB be pea of the mt^CMdr V ' ( 9 Pec ndness not a barrier giuup, in cooperaugn wun me winsionoaiem recreation department's special populations unit. Before she became involved in the Outerv Sighters, Penn had little faith in the ability of blind individuals to participate in a variety of social and athletic activities. Then Charles Roane, who helped create the Outer-Sighters and who is a program leader now, gave Penn an opportunity to watch the WinstonSalem beepball (softball for the blind) team in action. * f "When 1 watched that I was totally amazed/ she said. She explains that in beepball, the players are able to track the ball because it beeps electronically. "Then, I started bringing them bats and balls and doing whatever I could do. And now I'm out there in the field," said Penn. Outer-Sighters vice president Francenia Sfnith has been involved in the group since it was launched in 1978. Because Smith is partially sighted she said she is able to help her peers who are less sighted. The purpose of the group, she said, is to ptovide a social outlet for the community's visually impaired, many of whom aren't able to participate in other social activities because of their handicaps. "We get along well,*1 Smith said. "We understand each others' needs. There used to be a time when the blind had no social outlets." The Outer-Sighters not only double as beepball Braves, but most of them also participate in the Winston-Salem Blind Bowling League, Wednesday night Bingo games, ceramics classes and recreational excursions to Busch Gardens. In planning the social programs for the OuterSighters, she usually asks the members what they would like to do, Penn said. The programs are for their benefit and whatever they can think of for me to do, that's what I do," she said. Smith the Outer-Sighters is also more than a social organization. It is also a civic organization. R SOCIAL NOTES Christmas Cle Tis the season and it's time to go shopping once again. But a special group of people in the city are shopping not just for themselves, but for some of the less fortunate members of the comThose shoppers are sponsors S>wi ituuuiva wiu uiUITIUUOiS WIIU5C Christmas will not be as bright without the help of concerned citiThe sponsors were found through the Christmas Clearinghouse program, a United Waysponsored agency dedicated to securing gifts an donations for needy members of the community. But the program is desperately in need of more sponsors and with WFDD radio to I WFDD/88.5 FM, listener supported radio from Wake Forest University, will host the 4th Annual Community Carol Sing on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at First Presbyterian Church, 300 N. Cherry St, from rfree ChuMnai i 7:30 to 8:30 pjn. A reception will ABOUT TOWN Delta Sigma i^i . 9 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members along with 41 local high KnttKm call 74* xhoQl junior and senior Teen Lift participants took part in the North Carolina A&T State University *i S Day on Saturday, Nov. 14. ' ,%si The Teen Lift participants were Kfnm Santa greeted by Dr. Clenton A. Blount Jies, a tour beefc* Jr. They were given a guided tour si may have &&<; by A&T Student Ambassadors. Faculty and staff were on hand to answer questions and to provide ' academic information about their Financial aid, admissions and counseling information was also JpN^dS available. Complimentary luncheon tickets and complimentary football tickets were given to Teen Lift par-, The purpose of Teen Lift is to ^ Please see page A10 L ' . '' N V >ple f "MSSh ?- vxv y .: *: jj^SpwSBH^W <$iy Jj^fjjk*N<-\ ;y;v\v ^BEL &MM Fw*4iP%k IS >B Outer-Sighters vice president, Francenia Smith, together (photo by Santana). Their handicaps do not prevent them from helping others such as the Samaritan Soup Kitchen, the Unitec Negro College Fund and the Sickle Cell Anemia fundraising campaign. Last year the Outer-Sighters provided Thanksgiving meals to area needy children. "We are civic minded. We help our community in any way we can," said Smith. "We're not handicapped in a sense. We believe in helping ourselves and helping others." The Outer-Sighters have set aside 25 cents per member each month for a Sick Fund. The Sick Fund collection is used to buy flowers and get well greeting i c - ? caras ior members and family who become ill. Membership fees are $1 each month. It takes a little time to collect enough funds for thc^contributions the group likes to give. But,1?mith said,%ey look forii aringhouse needs mor Clearinghouse staffer, Jane Porter, solicits sponso lies as Dec. 16 deadline for sponsorships and don (photo by Mike Cunningham). lost fourth annual commui follow in the RJR Gallery at Ihe vary .Moraviai Sawtooth Building. song leader. Dr. Donald Armitage, director The carol s of music at First Presbyterian to the public, h Church, will again be the organist. of canned good James Bates, choir director of Cal- Bank of Northv i Theta Sorority gives te A**iSrJ * 2L* v; ^ EMM Teen Lift participants join members of Delta Skjm by the sorority. / * 1 ^ I 1 <7 pp^ * * , P s prepares a snack for her peers during a holiday getward to sharing what they have. 1 The Outer-Sighters recently made a $40 contribul tion to the Samaritan Soup Kitchen in order to help i feed Winston-Salem's hungry residents. "They feel that they are very well blessed. Why not help other people who can't help themselves?" Penn said. -s Penn said the Outer-Sighters does not receive financial support from the recreation department. The Council for the Blind is a national organization which promotes the legislative interests of visually impaired citizens, Penn said. Many Outer-Sighters participate in the council as well. Outer-Sighters president Roy Townsend said that they are planning a fundraising campaign soon and Pleasp sop nano A1H www www f* w IV * e to help spread cheer | Christmas less than a month away, 1 the agency still has 100 families I and elderly individuals who do not have sponsors. I - L. Jane Porter, a staff member at I the clearinghouse, says anyone can be a sponsor and provide donations I y, of items or of money. Sponsors I rT .J# who want to do their own shopping jdt for their adopted Christmas family I or individual may call the clearing- I ?house and ask to be matched with a 1 * family or individual.The staff jjprmembers will shop for sponsors I r who are interested in contributing I \ money rather than actual gifts. The fnr IV! VV/IIU IUUUUIO rs for needy fami- is Dec. 16 and more information is ations draws near available from Jane Porter at 722- I 0664. I nity Christmas carol sing I i Church, will be is requested. I Triad area church choirs and high school glee club members I ing is free and open have been invited to attend. I owever, a donation Seating for these groups can I s to go to the Food be reserved by calling Katherine vest North Carolina Tischler by Dec. 11 at 761-5198. I jen-agers a special lift I a flESHR a Theta Sorority during a program sponsored recently i
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 10, 1987, edition 1
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