We now knit over 1500 hats each year and donate them mostly to first grade classes, young cancer patients, Stewart’s Caring Place (a free cancer resource center) and hospice patients. The joy and responses we get are truly “payment-in-full”!

In March of 2014, the Akron Public Schools honored our outreach program by naming the Akron Blind Center “An Essential Piece” of the education puzzle: “In appreciation of your loyal dedication and commitment to the Students of Akron Public Schools, we present you with an Outstanding Volunteer Award”. The Center was honored to accept this award during a wonderful banquet.

The outreach program has recently added a new “Backpack Project” to provide backpacks filled with specialty items and school supplies to area school children who have been identified as blind and visually impaired. If you know of someone who could benefit from one, contact us for more information.

We also have a summer braille bridge program to keep braille fresh in the minds of young students. Speaking of students, we offer a very unique secondary scholarship program to offset the very high cost of education, which is much more than the usual burden for the sighted.

We offer a youth and young adult social programs where “kids can just be kids”, doing everything from pizza parties to karaoke to fun activities. It is also an opportunity for parents to get together to know they are not “alone”.