Interfaith Outreach is having it’s 2nd Speaker Series for the Program for Visual Impairments.

Westminster Canterbury- 501 VES Rd. Lynchburg:
Monday, April 15- Facing the Challenge of Macular Degeneration (Piedmont Eye Center’s Dr. Golnaz Javey)
Monday, May 20- Meeting Every Day Visual Challenges (Hands-On Demonstration of Adaptive Equipment and Techniques with the Virginia Department of the Blind and Visually Impaired)

The Summit- 1400 Enterprise Dr. Lynchburg
Tuesday, April 23- Daily Living with Visual Challenges (Bill Hadden and Yvonne Malcolm)
Tuesday, May 28- Daily Living with Visual Challenges (Dr. Bill Hobbs and Carolyn Bowling)

The Interfaith Outreach Sleep Out is IOA’s annual communitywide campaign to engage the heart and will of the community to respond to emergency needs of our neighbors in Central Virginia. We aim to do so by raising awareness of the plights of the less fortunate while raising money to benefit Interfaith Outreach Association’s Emergency Assistance Program. Interfaith Outreach Association is partnering with The National Honor Society at Holy Cross Regional School for this program.

When:
The campaign runs from February 11 to May 11, 2013.
Groups will conduct their own sleep out at their convenience during this time period.

Training for facilitators
Training for group leaders interested in participating in the sleep out will take place on Monday, February 11, 2013 and Monday, March 4 from 6:30-7:30 pm at Holy Cross Regional School in Lynchburg, VA. It is recommended that group leaders attend one of the two training sessions. A curriculum guide of suggested activities will be provided at the training session. Please call 434.846.6098 to reserve your spot for training.

Training Manual will include:
1. Proposed schedule of activities
2. Local Statistics
3. Local Family Stories
4. Variety of Hands- on Activities/ Simulations for people of all ages
5. Recommendations for ACTION!

Raising Awareness of Emergency Situations- The Sleep Out
Community members of all ages are encouraged to participate in a community wide poverty simulation by organizing sleep outs at their churches, synagogues, schools, businesses, homes, and in their neighborhoods. Group facilitators should attend training to maximize the participant’s experience.

The idea behind the sleep out is that participants experience first hand what life is like without electricity, running water, and comfortable shelter. This activity is done under adult supervision

Raising Funds for Interfaith Outreach Emergency Assistance
Sleep out participants can make donations to Interfaith Outreach Association’s Emergency Assistance program by gathering pledges and/or sponsorships for their sleep out event. The proceeds will go to Interfaith Outreach Association’s Emergency Assistance program that assists over 2000 plus households who would otherwise lose their water, heat, power or place to live.

Community members are also encouraged to find other creative ways to raise awareness and funds for IOA’s Emergency Assistance program by organizing house parties for neighbors and friends, spaghetti dinners, bake sales, car washes etc.

Grand Prize:

The group that raises the most money for Interfaith Outreach Association’s Emergency Assistance Program wins a sleep over at Amazement Square, the Rightmire Children’s Museum in downtown Lynchburg, complete with a complimentary pizza dinner and breakfast in the morning