Sierra Services for the Blind, Volunteers

Sierra Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
offers full services, at no charge, to clients in the foothill communities of Nevada and Placer Counties and beyond.

We help blind and visually impaired individuals stay in their homes and out of institutions.

Volunteers
Like all non-profit agencies, Sierra Services is able to do the work it does because of volunteers. And, like most, there are several kinds of volunteers, and all are in short supply.

The Board of Directors is all-volunteer. We are in the process of expanding the board, and are looking for community representation of all types. As board members, they are responsible for the funding of the agency. It is with board approval we put on the events, make the plea to donors, and set the policy which guides the agency. Our board differs in that it answers to a Membership, explained elsewhere on this site.

One of the most prominent aspects of serving a rural blind and visually impaired community is the need for transportation. The loss of vision means the loss of the driver’s license. Everything we do, peer groups, social events, medical transportation, or simply meeting a client one on one requires transportation. When possible it is the surviving spouse, but in most cases it falls to staff or volunteers to provide the ride to the doctor or an agency function. We need more. Trips out of town to medical appointments can take most of the day, and staff is needed for the base program. As we do not provide shopping or errand transportation, most clients have a neighbor or relative who can perform this function. It is not uncommon for us to have a low cost function where the client can bring their friend to brunch, lunch or a picnic to say thank you.

Each year at the Annual Meeting of the Membership we award the Annie Ferguson Award and certificates to volunteers who have shown consistent support for the client and the agency.

Other volunteers help with events such as the Golf Tournament, the Abalone Banquet, or the Dinner Dance. Needless to say, without their time and organizational skills, their willingness to take tickets or serve, or their dedication to the client, this agency like so many others would be unable to perform half of what we do for the blind and visually impaired of our common community.

If you would like to volunteer as a Board Member, driver, or assist with fund raising events, please contact us at 530-265-2121, or come to the office at 546 Searls Ave., Nevada City.