Agency Details:

Central Minnesota Audio Newspapers

Central Minnesota Audio Newspapers provides volunteers to read the St. Cloud Times and other area newspapers for the blind or visually or physically impaired.

Description:
Central Minnesota Audio Newspapers provides volunteers (two every day except Saturday, when one volunteer is scheduled) to produce (select appropriate stories) and read the St. Cloud Times and surrounding area newspapers for the blind or visually impaired. Reading is done at the KVSC Radio station in Stewart Hall, on the campus of St. Cloud State University

The State Services for the Blind provides radio receivers to listeners to receive the broadcasts.

The group is headed by a Volunteer Coordinator who helps recruit and schedule readers. A Testing/Training Coordinator tests potential readers and provides an orientation and training for those who pass the testing. (Reading test is evaluated by State Services for the Blind.)

Volunteers read 1-2 times per month (schedule is flexible) and the commitment per time is 3-4 hours. Reading time is from 6-8 p.m. Sunday-Friday, 6-7 p.m. on Saturday. Some preparation time is required.

This is a good volunteer opportunity for couples.

History:
This organization was started as Central Minnesota Newspapers for the Visually Impaired in 1995 through the efforts of Mrs. Brendon McDonald, wife of then SCSU President Brenden McDonald; Minnesota State Services for the Blind; the Mass Communications Department at SCSU, and the Community Education Department of St. Cloud School District #742. The organization changed its name in 2008 to Central Minnesota Audio Newspapers.

Contact people:

Linda Schwenzfeier, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Art Grachek, Testing/Training Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

601 20th St. No. Sartell, MN 56377 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Last updated on June 22, 2009