The Salvation Army’s School for the Blind recently received a vital donation of two new braille machines and a new stove to add to their inventory of equipment used to help the visually impaired learn to live self-sufficient, independent lives.
Salvation Army Community Relations and Development Associate Melanese Coakley said the donation is an invaluable contribution to the school’s resources.
“These items are essential for our curriculum, as we not only prepare the children academically, in terms of being qualified for job opportunities, but also to be able to function on their own in day-to-day living. Things like learning how to iron, make a bed, use the stove and cook meals, etc., are important aspects of independent living that you and I as sighted people take for granted, because we can see the fire and we know where the controls are and whatnot. So, we teach these skills because they help prepare our blind and partially-sighted students to function on their own and have that independence they so look forward to once they graduate.
“The purpose of the stove is twofold. We use it to cook meals for our students but it’s also a resource in terms of showing them how to use it for themselves. It’s been put to use by them in weekly baking and cooking classes, which they love.
“With the braille machines, we have some but these new ones are more modern, because as technology progresses the machines also progress. We’ve had an increase in students, and you’d consider a braille machine like you would a notebook – each student needs to have their own to do their work in the classroom. We have 14 students and now, with these new additions, a total of seven braille machines, so we’re getting closer to where we need to be.”
CIBC FirstCaribbean donated the items, which were displayed at a recent presentation at the School for the Blind.
Melanese Coakley said, “We are so thankful CIBC FirstCaribbean came alongside us once again to assist the children of the future. We’re always excited to partner with them and look forward to working with them again in December for our annual Christmas initiatives.”
The bank’s Managing Director (Bahamas & TCI) Marie Rodland-Allen said, “CIBC FirstCaribbean has the opportunity to donate to many different charities and community initiatives, and over the last several years we’ve partnered with the Salvation Army for their Christmas luncheon and Christmas parcel packing. When we heard there was a need for braille machines and a stove, we immediately thought this was the perfect opportunity to actually make an impact – not to belittle the other causes we contribute to, but this particular one was near and dear. It’s heartwarming to know these items will make a significant impact to the daily lives of these wonderful kids.”
The Salvation Army’s School for the Blind is a comprehensive educational facility for blind and visually impaired children. It provides students with quality educational programs using state-of-the-art equipment and assistive technology devices.
About CIBC FirstCaribbean
CIBC FirstCaribbean is a relationship bank offering a full range of market leading financial services through our Corporate and Investment Banking, Retail and Business Banking and Wealth Management segments. We are located in sixteen (16) countries around the Caribbean, providing the banking services that fit our customers’ lives through approximately 3,000 employees in 68 branches and offices. We are one of the largest regionally listed financial services institutions in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean, with over US$11 billion in assets and market capitalization of US $2 billion. We also have an office in Hong Kong. The face of banking is changing throughout the world and CIBC FirstCaribbean intends to lead these changes with the expertise, integrity and knowledge gained from banking in the Caribbean since 1836. CIBC FirstCaribbean is a member of the CIBC Group. CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with 11 million personal banking and business clients. Through our three major business units - Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Capital Markets - CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada with offices in the United States and around the world.
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CIBC FirstCaribbean recently donated a new stove to the Salvation Army’s School for the Blind, which focuses on helping blind and visually impaired individuals learn how to complete everyday tasks, such as cooking, in order to lead self-sufficient, independent lives. L to R: Salvation Army Community Relations and Development Associate Melanese Coakley; CIBC FirstCaribbean Managing Director (Bahamas & TCI) Marie Rodland-Allen; and Salvation Army Divisional Commander Major Clarence Ingram.
Along with a new stove, CIBC FirstCaribbean also donated two new modern braille machines to the Salvation Army’s School for the Blind, bringing their total number of braille machines up to seven. The Salvation Army’s goal is to have one braille machine for each of the School for the Blind’s 14 students. L to R: CIBC FirstCaribbean Managing Director (Bahamas & TCI) Marie Rodland-Allen; Salvation Army Community Relations and Development Associate Melanese Coakley; and Salvation Army Divisional Commander Major Clarence Ingram.
