Winter 2006

Seattle Lighthouse Employees Come to Aid of Hurricane Katrina Victims

Seattle Lighthouse employees responded to an emergency appeal this September to help Southern blindness-agency workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Three fellow National Industries for the Blind (NIB) agencies suffered extensive damage in the wake of Katrina: the New Orleans Lighthouse for the Blind, LC Industries in Natchez, Mississippi, and LC Industries in Gulfport, Mississippi. Numerous employees of these agencies lost their homes to the storm and relocated to evacuated areas and emergency shelters.

“I know if the situation were reversed and we suffered such a huge loss as a result of an earthquake or other natural disaster, we would greatly appreciate any assistance we could get from other NIB agencies,” said George Jacobson, Lighthouse president, in his appeal to Lighthouse employees. “Let’s show the rest of the NIB family that the Seattle Lighthouse cares and make as generous a contribution as possible.”

Employees responded by donating $3,623.41 in one month to the NIB Hurricane Relief Fund. “I am again amazed at the generosity of our employees. Many of these folks have limited resources but they find ways to contribute,” says George. “It may be because many of these people have experienced great adversity in their lives and can truly empathize with these folks in difficulty.”

People attending this year’s Deaf-Blind retreat also pitched in to raise funds for the relief. The retreat took place the last week of August and there was great concern among those attending when they heard of the devastation. There is a close affinity in the Deaf-Blind community to Louisiana which is home to the largest number of Deaf-Blind people with Usher Syndrome in the nation, many of whom had attended the retreat in the past. Deaf-Blind attendees and the Seabeck Conference Center donated $520 to the Red Cross to aid Katrina victims.

We continue to send our thoughts and good wishes to our friends and loved ones who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

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