Stories Like His

Dear Readers,


Did you know that Mississippi has the highest incidence of blindness per capita in the nation?  And that over 70% of people with severe visual impairments are not employed?  Thus, given these two statistics, Mississippi has the highest number of unemployed, blind individuals per capita in the country.

But the story below is one of hope and gratitude:

Greg Sylvest of Meridian, MS, first came to Mississippi Industries for the Blind at age 35, having been diagnosed with Glaucoma, “the second most common cause of blindness in the United States.”  Because of this disease, Greg began to lose his peripheral sight, causing what is commonly known as tunnel vision.  Upon finding out about this irreparable loss of sight, Greg was “shocked.”

“I couldn’t tell that’s what I had, but by the time I had it checked out, it was inoperable,” he told me during our interview.

Although Greg began to lose his vision, he did not lose his ability to work.  When asked what it was like to come to Mississippi Industries for the Blind as a new employee, he replied, “It was very good, very comforting to know I still had a place to work.  I knew I could come here and be encouraged by others who were also visually impaired.  We all work very well together.”

So, for the past fourteen years, Greg has worked as a welder for MIB Meridian, creating products from tow bars to ferrules to fish cookers to fence post pullers.  He was also awarded Employee of the Year in 2011, to which he says, “It was nice to know that I was meeting standards.” (Or rather, exceeding them).

Because of the employment opportunities created for him by Mississippi Industries for the Blind, and his own willingness to overcome his perceptual limitations, Greg can work and provide for himself.

I enjoy doing interviews like this and the one with Ms. Sandra Williams (see previous post) because it gives you, the reader, a context for the work we do as a foundation.  Greg’s and Sandra’s stories are only two out of hundreds like them.  There are still plenty of Mississippians with visual impairments that would love nothing more than a task at hand and financial self-reliance.  The foundation thus takes in donations to help purchase equipment and develop programs to then hire visually impaired individuals from around the state.

While we cannot change blindness, we can change what happens in the lives of those with visual impairments.  And it all starts with your help.

MIB Foundation to Enter the Kroger Community Rewards Program!

Hello, all!
     MIB Foundation for the Blind & Visually Impaired would like to invite you all to participate in the Kroger’s Community Rewards Program by registering us as your local charity!  Each time a registered card is used, the MIB Foundation will receive points that on a quarterly basis that will be converted to a donation from Kroger that will then go towards programs and equipment for those with visual impairments at our facilities!  The process is very easy and will not affect your existing Kroger Points system.  By following the guidelines below, you can ensure that the MIB Foundation will receive these donations from Kroger!

Here’s how to participate:
Register online at krogercommunityrewards.com
Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and register your card with your organization after you sign up.  (If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus card, they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.)
Click on Sign In/Register
If you are new online customer, you must click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box.
Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions.
You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number.
Update or confirm your information.
Enter NPO number (81278) or name of organization (MIB Foundation for the Blind & Visually Impaired), select organization from list and click on confirm.
To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information page.
Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count.
If you have any questions about how to register, please call us at 601-984-3264.  We will gladly assist you in this process in any way possible.
Thank you!

The Foundation

While Mississippi Industries for the Blind has been present in Jackson since 1942, the MIB Foundation for the Blind & Visually Impaired is a relatively new establishment; and although the they are separate entities, the MIB Foundation and Mississippi Industries for the Blind are oftentimes confused and/or seen as one operation.  However, the MIB Foundation was formed in response to an increasing need to support the services offered by Mississippi Industries for the Blind, namely through providing financial support for facilities, equipment, training, and educational programs.  For example, after receiving a generous donation a couple of years ago, the MIB Foundation for the Blind & Visually Impaired bought three computers with special software adapted to those who cannot see (to watch the video, click here).  In so doing, the foundation, working alongside AmeriCorps volunteers, has been able to teach vision impaired employees computer skills thus giving them more independence and widening their skills for the workplace.  After meeting such success with this project and seeing its impact on those going through the program, the MIB Foundation has continued to search for ways to bring in funds to better the lives of people with low vision in the community.

The MIB Foundation for the Blind & Visually Impaired supports projects that empower the employees with low-vision at Mississippi Industries for the Blind, like Carolyn.

If you would like to know more about the ways in which you can help the foundation, please contact us.  You can come by our facility at 2501 North West Street in Jackson M-F, 7:30-4:30; call our office 601-984-3200; e-mail us at themibfoundation@gmail.com; follow us on Twitter @mibfoundation; and friend us on Facebook!  We’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our future programs and ideas.