Volunteers spend day at school for the blind

By MediaNews Group

PAOLI >> A team of volunteer employees from Vanguard recently spent an afternoon at the RoyerGreaves School for the Blind in Paoli, learning about the work of the school and lending muscle to several projects.

The Vanguard volunteers also spent time reading children’s books to Royer-Greaves’ younger students.

The school serves children and adults who have both visual impairment and developmental, emotional or physical disabilities. The school was selected for the March 28 Day of Service by Vanguard’s Women’s Initiative for Leadership and Success. Nineteen Vanguard employees donated their time to the effort.

They emptied a former dormitory building — removing old furniture, cabinets, and outdated electronic equipment, then sorted the pieces for recycling or reuse. The building is now ready for future improvements in support of program needs, according to a press release.

“Thanks to the creative and environmentally friendly suggestion of the Vanguard team, two regional animal rescue programs benefited as well: they are receiving old blankets and bed linens for their shelters,” the release stated.

“The entire Royer-Greaves School for Blind community was thrilled and thankful to have the Vanguard volunteer team help us,” said Vicky Mayer, executive director of Royer-Greaves School for the Blind. “Sharing their collective time and talent was a great resource for RoyerGreaves. We look forward to collaborating with Vanguard’s staff on other projects in the future.”

The day ended with the Vanguard crew joining RoyerGreaves’ students, adults, faculty, staff and families for a celebration that capped off National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

The celebration included Royer-Greaves students and adults, many of whom are nonverbal, entertaining the audience with a variety of song and dance.

The Royer-Greaves School for the Blind was founded in 1921. For more information visit www.royer-greaves.org Email business story ideas to business editor/writer drovins@21st-centurymedia. com.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Vanguard volunteers move old and unneeded furniture from RoyerGreaves School for the Blind’s Lion Hall. The volunteers’ work helped clear the building so it can be made more useful again. Pictured, from left, are: Melissa Petrillo, Diana Francella, Peggy Volpone, Ted Duncombe, Karen Weber and Valerie Kennon.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Royer-Greaves Strategic Planning Consultant Jim Powers talks to Vanguard volunteers about the school’s mission, and how the work they would be doing that day will help prepare Lions Hall for a new purpose.