Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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Vision Resource Dinner is "Out of Sight" by TALICIA SMITH of vision can open up a heightened awareness in all the other senses. Many notable musicians such as Andrea Bocelli, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles are visually impaired. These individuals, along with many others, have reached beyond their sight to embrace the world around them. On Friday, June 22, the Vision Resource Center Although vision is one of our greatest senses, a loss of Fayetteville will host its First Annual Out of Sight dining event. The event will take place from 7-11 p.m., at the Highland Country Club and is sure to be an educational experience for all the guests. Attendees will get to be a part of "blindfold" dining low vision, are legally blind or blind. Many of them are unaware of the resources available. The dining event serves as one of the main where they will have the chance to experience what it is like to be visually impaired. Dancing will follow dinner, with music provided by the Essential Elements Smooth Jazz Band. The night will also feature special music by 13-year-old Michael Macias, Michael Macias performing with Fayetteville Sym- phony Orchestra Maestro Fouad Fakhouri. who has been blind since he was four months old. Come and let your ears embrace the sounds as he graces the keys of the piano, playing various pieces — including his original composition "Listening Walk." A silent auction will also be held. Through the Out of Sight dining event, the Vision Resource Center desires who are registered as visually impaired. "There are so many more out there," said Terri Thomas, executive director of the Vision Resource Center. The VRC wants to reach them. Those listed as visually impaired have greatly reduced or to raise awareness about the visually impaired as well as raise funds to continue to support the visually impaired community. The center's purpose is to make people aware of the visually impaired community and the services available to them. Currently in Cumberland County there are approximately 631 individuals socialize with other visually impaired children," says Thomas, giving them a sense of belonging with someone who understands them at their level. The center also has a youth program that reaches out to all kids in the Cumberland County area. Program activities include monthly activities, summer camp and transitions programs to prepare students for work or college. However, the center serves the needs of the blind and visually impaired of all ages. Other programs and services provided by the center include van transportation, healthy living programs, Braille, computer classes and more. For services or to purchase tickets for the event contact Terri is working with the Cumberland County School System to reach the student population. Through their combined efforts parents can fi nd out about fi nancial resources available and receive information on how to better advocate for their children. The children benefi t in numerous ways as well, one of them being that "they are able to connect and Thomas at the Vision Resource Center at 910-483-2719 or Cory Worrell, Marketing Director/Refractive Coordinator and Cape Fear Eye Associates, PA at 910- 672-5017. TALICIA SMITH, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. fundraisers for the center, and is one way the community can assist the VRC in its efforts. "We can learn so much from them," said Thomas. This dining experience will allow you to take a moment and step into the world the way the visually impaired experience it everyday. The VRC offers many services. Currently the staff 12 UCW JUNE 13-19, 2012 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM