Paper Work
Melissa Murphy felt the buttons on the paper shredder, attempting to discern the difference between them and what their function was.
After taking a week to get the feel for each button and how to insert paper into the machine, Murphy finally felt comfortable in the workplace.
Murphy, a 29-year-old Butler resident, has been blind since birth.
She volunteers shredding paper for the Blind Association of Butler and Armstrong counties. Since she previously worked at the Community Health Connections shredding paper, getting used to the equipment wasn't too difficult.
"Once you figure out the buttons and how to insert the paper, it doesn't take long to get used to the work," Murphy said. "It's all based on practice. The more you practice something the better you get at it."
While Murphy once felt she would never be able to find gainful employment, her work shredding paper for the Blind Association has given her a new sense of confidence.
"I wish I had been volunteering since I graduated from Butler County Community College," Murphy said. "But I have been volunteering for the Blind Association since February, and I felt confidence in the workplace right away."
Zack Byrnes, director of development and public relations for the Blind Association, said the paper shredding business model came up a year ago when the association was looking for a new social enterprise.
Out of Sight shredding was born, and the Blind Association started doing client work last May. The organization received $150,000 from grants and other private donors to help fund the project.
All money made from the business will be reinvested to help pay for equipment and other costs.
"We've been soliciting contracts from businesses in the Armstrong and Butler areas," Byrnes said. "So far we've been doing smaller contracts and have shredded around 25,000 pounds of paper."
Byrnes said they have five to 10 employees who do work shredding paper.
The program is currently in a pilot stage, and the association plans to compensate employees beginning Oct. 1.
Byrnes said the Blind Association hopes to create 50 jobs within two years.
Anyone who is visually impaired, from having partial vision to being completely blind, can work shredding paper.
"So far we've been working with people that are visually impaired, but I would like to expand it to clients who have any physical or mental disorders," Byrnes said.
"The program really does provide our clients with a sense of purpose and help people become confident that can find employment in a competitive workplace."
