The Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc. is celebrating 50 years of service to the community through providing jobs for blind, visually impaired, deaf, and other disabled individuals.

“Our goal has always been to provide employment for the blind and visually impaired in a setting that affords both income and dignity to the individual with no compromise on the quality of production,” said Sharon Axelberg the CFO/Co-Executive Director of Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc.

Lions Industries for the Blind began as Eastern Carolina Industries for the Blind, Inc. on East Street in Kinston. In 1975, the operation was moved to a larger facility on East Lenoir Avenue and then named Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc.

“Due to the pandemic, we’ve postponed our larger celebration until the fall and hope to invite Lions and NC Dignitaries, National Industries for the Blind staff, our vendors, customers, and others important to the efforts here at 4126 Berkeley Avenue, Kinston, NC to provide independence through employment to so many throughout these last 50 years,” said Alexberg.“

Lions began their 50-year celebration last week with an employee/board luncheon catered by Nana’s Catering of Kinston with a presentation from the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rick Landis.

“Lions Industries for the Blind is a thriving business today in a 40,500 square foot building (began in an 800 square foot building) continuing to count our greatest asset our employees, the blind, the visually impaired, the disabled, and our entire crew of about 50,” said Axelberg. “We know that without their tenacity to work and make this business a success, we wouldn’t be here today.”

To learn more about the Lions Industries for the Blind, their websites are lionsindustries.org, libgraphicsolutions.com. They hope to continue to serve the blind, visually impaired, deaf, and other disabled individuals and our community for many years to come.