MINDSEYE BUILDING AND TOWER EXPERIENCE DAMAGE FROM STORM
Volunteers needed to help maintain radio broadcast program
BELLEVILLE, ILL. – Belleville-based nonprofit MindsEye seeks community support following damage due to the storms that came through Southwest Illinois on Saturday, April 15. An adjacent radio tower experienced some significant damage resulting in multiple pieces strewn across MindsEye’s office building. The building, located at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, is unsafe for staff and volunteers to conduct work. Volunteers are needed to sustain the organization’s ability to serve the Greater St. Louis and Central Illinois communities.
MindsEye provides programs and services for individuals who are blind or have low vision. Most notably, the organization offers their Broadcast Information Program for free which will be impacted the most by the storm damage to the building. The Broadcast Information Program translates the visual world of print into audio. Volunteers record themselves reading various news materials such as newspapers, magazines, and ads for MindsEye to broadcast on the MindsEye Radio network.
Without access to the building, several volunteers are not able to use the recording studio to record the news programs that so many individuals rely upon for their information.
“Fortunately, MindsEye broadcasts from a tower in South County so MindsEye Radio is still on the air. However, without access to the recording studio in our office building, many of our volunteers have lost the ability to support us,” said MindsEye Executive Director Jason Frazier. “While we have several volunteers that are able to record from home, not everyone has the capacity.”
MindsEye is seeking volunteers to cover the regularly scheduled MindsEye Radio news programs until further notice. Volunteering can take place at home and only requires a recording device such as a smartphone, tablet or digital recording device. To inquire about volunteering, please contact Broadcast@MindsEyeRadio.org.
MindsEye’s other programs and services will continue without delay. Audio Description services at live cultural events will continue as scheduled, including:
- Gateway Center for Performing Arts’ “9 to 5” matinee – April 29
- St. Louis CITY SC vs Portland – April 29
- St. Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Angels – May 2
- The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ “Gruesome Playground Injuries” – May 4
The organization’s Adaptive Athletics events will also continue as scheduled, including:
- All Gateway Archers Beep Baseball and Gateway GoalBall team practices
- United Way of Greater St. Louis Family Day demonstrations – April 22
- Gateway Archers Beep Baseball open scrimmage at SLYSA – May 6
To learn more about MindsEye and how to get involved, visit MindsEyeRadio.org.
About MindsEye
The nonprofit MindsEye strives to build a more inclusive community by translating vision into audio for individuals who are blind or have low vision. The Broadcast Information Program provides listeners access to long-form journalism and local news. The Audio Description Program enables every person who attends a theatre production or museum exhibit the chance to enjoy a rewarding experience. The Adaptive Athletics Program raises awareness and provides educational and competitive opportunities for athletes who are blind or partially sighted. For more information, visit MindsEyeRadio.org.
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Media Contact: Laura Foughty – Development and Communications Coordinator, lfoughty@mindseyeradio.org | 618-394-6221
