To advance the independence of persons who are blind and visually impaired
Volunteers in Action
Take a look at what our seacoast volunteers are up to:Volunteer Newsletter.
Volunteer Story:
By Lynne Saltonstall:
Over the past 10 years, Charlie McCaffery has been a volunteer visitor and driver. His dedication, dependability and good sense of humor have endeared him to each of his clients. Ten years ago, when asked why he wanted to become a volunteer he responded, “To make someone’s life a little easier.”
He has certainly accomplished that several times over.
By Charlie McCaffery:
I have been a volunteer for the NH Association for the Blind since June of 2001, and during those ten years I have had the pleasure of working with several clients, all of whom were great in their own way, but my personal favorite was Fred.
I met Fred in September, 2006 and right away I knew I had gotten lucky. He had become blind a minute after being born, but he had so many interests that it was hard to keep up with him. He was constantly on his computer and would send a steady stream of jokes and news items. If you spoke with him on the phone you wouldn’t have any clue that he wasn’t sighted. He would say he “watched” the Red Sox game and if he couldn’t sleep, he would get up and read (Braille).
When I first met Fred he was going to the YMCA for workouts on the stationary bicycle. Fred had diabetes among other things, but in all the time I knew him, I never heard him complain about his station in life. He worked at a large local manufacturer for 20 years until automation took over his job. He kept abreast of current events through the “JAWS” program on his computer. Fred passed away on March 25, 2011, and the world is a lot richer for all he brought to it.
I wanted to mention Fred as an example of all one can gain by being a volunteer for the NH Association for the Blind. If I ever felt down, all I had to do was e-mail or call Fred and my spirits were lifted. All he basically needed was transportation and someone’s elbow to guide him.
I market real estate so I am fortunate that my flexible hours allow me to be available the hour or so per week to drive clients to doctor’s appointments, shopping, or in Fred’s case to Radio Shack to upgrade his scanner.
I would advise anyone who has a couple of free hours per month, and who would like to make a small difference in someone else’s life while making a large difference in their own, to become a volunteer for the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.