• Michelle Hartfield

The Salvation Army Aids Visually Impaired Community During Water Crisis

Jackson, MS (September 1, 2022) - Mississippi Industries for the Blind is the leading employer of Mississippians who are blind. They strive to provide training and employment for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, to facilitate independence and self-reliance in all aspects of their lives.

Lakenya Moore, Chief Financial Officer spoke on the struggles their employees have faced during the water crisis. “We have been trying for a month to get access to water. We spoke with The Salvation Army this morning, and here they are. They stepped up when no one else has.”

Seventy-five percent of MIB employees are blind or vision-impaired and commute via public transportation. Without vehicles, they have no access to the distribution sites. “So we thank you for taking care of our disabled population. We are so thankful for water being brought here,” continued Moore.

The Salvation Army continues to distribute water in a city that has struggled to keep water pressure and water quality regulated. Much of the city has been under a boil water notice for over a month, even before flooding brought water pressure to a standstill.

Warehouse manager, Joe Spicer, a visually impaired employee commented, “Most of the distribution sites are set up for folks with a car. I can’t do that. This is a great service. I wish more people would think about people with limited access.”

Captain Heather Dolby spoke on the importance of The Salvation Army’s efforts. “We really want to make sure that everyone who needs it has access to water because access is so important. They cannot live without it.”

The Salvation Army will continue to meet the need in Jackson through delivery to locations with limited transportation access and drive through sites for mass distribution.

Donations to support relief efforts may be made online at helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.