Lion's Industries for the Blind celebrates World Sight Day 2021

Front Row from Left: Sammy Sanderson, Jon Vieregge, Avery Toodle, Jerry Howard, Oscar Lopez, Teresa Harper, Mia Hixon, Judy Garrison, Anne Moore, Cameron Morris. Back Row from Left: Begins with gentleman in hat – Daniel Moore, Mark Haynes, Tonya Koonce, David Burkette, Earl Johnson, Byson Jones, Wendel Ragland, Mike Pridgen. Not pictured: Kyle Barber, David Kephart, Robert Outlaw, Carmel Rogers.

October 14, 2021, was World Sight Day 2021 and October is Blindness Awareness Month. Lion’s Industries for the Blind, Inc. honored its legally blind and blind employees with a celebration.

“We had a wonderful celebration of our blind/legally blind employees,” said Sharon Axelberg, Executive Director of Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc. “Yesterday was the middle of our 50th year in business. It was a great day to celebrate the people we are here to serve as a company.”

Lions Industries was formed by the two Lions Clubs in Kinston, Kinston Host, and Ram Neuse Lions Club. There are 219 legally blind people on the NC Blind Register in Lenoir County.

“This special day and month were established to highlight awareness of the accomplishments of people who are living their best lives despite their visual status,” said Stephanie Wilkerson, SWB for the Blind.

World Sight Day is an annual event to celebrate people living with poor vision and focuses on world sight awareness, education, and prevention.

“The goal for the day is to raise funds and awareness to benefit those who are visually impaired or blind,” said Mark Conner, Director of Operations.