Blind Animal Lovers Need You

We received a letter this week from Tom Rash, the Executive Director of Audio Vision Radio Reading Service for the Blind, Inc. This is a nonprofit charity that operates a radio reading service for the blind. They have a little over 900 blind listeners.

The organization provides radio receivers to their blind subscribers. They do not broadcast on the open radio band but use a special frequency that broadcasts specifically to their listeners only.

Tom said in his letter that one of the organization's volunteer readers, Betty Vargas, had just finished recording our book GOD'S MESSENGERS. (That book was re-issued as ANGEL ANIMALS BOOK OF INSPIRATION and published by New World Library in 2009). Betty wanted Tom to tell us that in her 82 years of reading, this book was one of the best she has ever read. She bought five copies for family and friends.

The reason Tom told us all of this and that we are telling readers of the Angel Animals Story of the Week is that Audio Vision, every week, reads this newsletter to its 900 blind listeners.

While you have the enjoyment of reading the newsletter online, your blind animal loving cohorts are dependent upon Audio Vision to hear the inspiring stories and participate in the Angel Animals Network community. Think of how much this weekly newsletter means to you and imagine what it must mean to blind people, many of whom have dogs that literally save their lives every day and other pets that bring them joy and comfort.

Now, Audio Vision faces the possibility of closing in the next several weeks. Many of its repeat contributors over the years have declined to donate this year because of the economy.

The charity and we would very much appreciate a contribution from you, if at all possible. We hope that you might be able to help.

Audio Vision is the only radio reading service supplying the blind population it serves with daily newspaper readings and more. Most of its listeners are seniors who once enjoyed reading daily newspapers. Other people with print handicaps -- quadriplegic, dyslexic, and learning disabled also qualify for the Audio Vision service.

The organization believes it is the right of all people to have access to their local newspapers for local and community news and events, to be informed on a weekly basis what foods and other items are on sale in their area, and to have access to entertainment and national and world news events from newspapers and weekly and monthly magazines.

Currently, Audio Vision is on the air 24-hours-a-day. From 8:00 A.M. to Noon, it provides a local broadcast of readings of three California newspapers. At noon it presents a one-hour reading of a book. Throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening it provides one-hour segments of numerous magazines and other monthly and weekly printed publications.

On Thursday afternoons the grocery ads are read. The organization also rebroadcasts the morning newspapers two more times throughout the 24-hour period.

Audio Vision produces an interview program, which has subjects pertinent to the blind population. It runs public service announcements from other organizations for the blind such as the Braille Institute, the Social Security Administration, Agencies For The Blind, and The Foundation Fighting blindness. This is all done via volunteers within the community.

Audio Vision is one of 140 radio reading services for the blind and print-handicapped in the United States and is a member of the National Association of Radio Reading Services.

Because AUDIO VISION is completely free of charge to its listeners, the need for contributions and volunteers is critical. To obtain a receiver, volunteer your time, make a tax deductible contribution, or receive information, simply call AUDIO VISION at (909) 797-4336, or write or send a check to AUDIO VISION, 35242 Yucaipa Blvd., Ste. C, Yucaipa, CA 92399.

Read more at www.freewebz.com/audiovisionavtom/about.html

Thank you!


Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network
www.angelanimals.net