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by Christine Pesout Fulfilling one great mission is the goal of every nonprofit organization; fulfilling two is the result of work done at Lighthouse for the Blind. The organization, one of the associated agencies of the National Industries for the Blind, manufactures cleaning products for the federal government. Not only has Lighthouse for the Blind employed blind, legally blind and visually impaired individuals since 1933, it now provides a line of environmentally preferred products that promote “green housekeeping.” In addition to manufacturing traditional cleaning agents, Lighthouse for the Blind partnered in 2002 with Rochester Midland Corp. – a company recognized by the EPA as a leader in the green housekeeping industry – to create the Enviro Care® line of products. These nine high-performance cleaning products are made using renewable resources with the overall goal of creating a safe, cleaner and healthier environment for occupants of buildings cleaned with the products, as well as the custodial workers who use them. Employees at Lighthouse for the Blind’s two plants also manufacture aerosol paints for the Forest Service and U.S. military. All products made by the company are manufactured under the SKILCRAFT® name – a name with which the federal government assures consumers that the product has been made by a visually impaired individual. As with many nonprofits, in many respects Lighthouse for the Blind is run like any other business. Employees earn above-minimum wage compensation, full benefits and vacation time. “We help our employees feel like they are really making a contribution, not just collecting a paycheck,” explains Abby Klug, marketing coordinator. “We even have a communications hotline that any employee can call and hear updated information on how the company is doing – the things we as managers hear in our meetings.” Lighthouse for the Blind posts its job openings online and receives referrals from Missouri State Rehabilitation Services for the Blind. “We are always looking for employees,” says Klug. The company’s mission is to provide a place where the blind and visually impaired can count on developing new, productive skills while simultaneously earning a steady income. As Klug notes, a small percentage of people are born blind. Therefore, learning new skills is essential for many individuals who become visually impaired. Unlike other companies, however, Lighthouse for the Blind does not count profit in terms of dollars. Instead, it analyzes a product’s profitability in terms of “blind hours,” or how much employment it will provide for the company. With one facility on Trenton Avenue and another in Berkeley, and more than 40 products listed in the company’s online catalogue, Lighthouse for the Blind is able to employ 100 individuals. A nonprofit that measures prosperity through the number of people it helps – and at the same time makes strides to improve environmental responsibility through its product line – is surely a societal, as well as business success. |
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