The IFB Beat 12-9 Edition

A Message from the Editor

Greetings all! Tis the season to be jolly! Need a laugh to start the week? What is a snowman’s favorite game? Stroll The Beat and find the answer.

Also find:

• Winston-Salem, Clemmons, and Asheville Facility holiday celebration reminders
• Do you like helping others? If so, please consider donating to the Annual Staff Campaign.
• Meet three more members of the IFB Solutions Professional Services Team.
• Stop by the Community Low Vision Center and check out the 20% off discounts for December.
• And don’t forget about the Benefit of the Week

Thank you for reading the IFB Beat, and have a wonderful week!

Anastasia Powell

IFB Solutions Communications Manager
apowell@ifbsolutions.org | 336-245-5698

Quick Links:

New this Week

– Meet the IFB Solutions Professional Services Team
– Update: Christmas Plans for Asheville, Clemmons and Winston-Salem Facilities
– Reminder: Annual Staff Giving Campaign
– Programs Update: Learning About Blindness (L.A.B.)
– Community Low Vision Center Updates

From Our Community

– Pop-Up Gift Shop in TAD’s Room, Dec. 16
– Enjoy a Safe Holiday Season: Decorate Safely!

HR and Opportunities

– Primary Care vs. Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room
– Reminder: Practical Savings Approaches and 403(b) Retirement Savings Accounts
– New Job Announcements

IFB Beat Phone Lines
Support Group Zoom Meeting Links
Archived Editions of The IFB Beat

 

Meet the IFB Solutions Professional Services Team

In the next few editions of The IFB Beat, we will introduce you to the IFB Solutions Professional Services department which includes Workforce Services, Community Low Vision Center, and Programs departments. This week we highlight Kim Shoffner, Manager of Programs, Toni Fraser, Low Vision Services Coordinator and Charity Hampton, S.E.E. Instructor and Low Vision Associate.

Kim Shoffner – Manager of Programs

Kim Shoffner has been part of the IFB Solutions team for six years as a full-time employee and an additional four years in a part-time capacity. She first learned about IFB Solutions through her work teaching independent living skills at mini centers for the Division of Services for the Blind. A colleague who worked in IFB’s Programs department for summer camps introduced her to the organization, sparking her journey with IFB.

As the Manager of Programs, Kim oversees a variety of initiatives designed to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Through the Student Enrichment Experience (S.E.E.) program, she plans and leads activities and day camps for K–12 students, focusing on independent living skills such as cooking, money management, cleaning, personal care, self-advocacy, and more. She also conducts Learning About Blindness sessions for students and Sensitivity to Blindness training for adults, helping to build awareness of how blind individuals adapt to a sighted world.

Kim teaches JAWS (Job Access with Speech) classes, enabling blind and visually impaired individuals to use computers independently, as well as Braille classes to promote literacy. She also coordinates bimonthly grooming for guide dogs and meets with support groups to provide encouragement and resources. Her team includes Charity Hampton, S.E.E. instructor and Low Vision associate and Gerald Crawford, Programs bus driver.

Reflecting on her time at IFB, Kim shares, “I love my job at IFB Solutions. It is truly heartwarming to help others learn skills that help them become more independent. Raising awareness in some and helping others gain confidence in their abilities is very rewarding.”

Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Greensboro College, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and has dedicated her career to teaching. She has two children in their early twenties and enjoys spending time with her family, singing, and solving puzzles. A person of faith, she lives by the mantra, “I walk by faith, not by sight, and know that all the time, God is good.”

Toni Fraser – Low Vision Services Coordinator, Winston-Salem Location

Toni Fraser has been with IFB Solutions for a total of 13 years, with the past year spent at the Winston-Salem location. Her journey with IFB began when the organization acquired the Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind, where she was previously employed.

As the Low Vision Services Coordinator, Toni manages the day-to-day operations of the Winston-Salem Community Low Vision Center (CLVC). Her role encompasses sales, speaking engagements, and ensuring the center runs smoothly while serving individuals with low vision.

Reflecting on her experience, Toni shares, “IFB has changed my life. Having gone through everything that I have been through helps me to relate to my customers.”

Outside of work, Toni enjoys taking long walks, reading, and expressing herself through poetry. Her passion for helping others and her creative pursuits make her an invaluable member of the IFB Solutions team.

Charity Hampton – S.E.E. Instructor and Low Vision Associate

Charity Hampton has been part of the IFB Solutions family for six years, joining the team in April 2018. Her connection to IFB began long before her employment, as her parents discovered the organization when she was still in school. Charity started as a S.E.E. (Student Enrichment Experience) student at age 12, attending S.E.E. Camp for several years before transitioning to a volunteer role and eventually becoming an employee.

In her dual role as a S.E.E. Instructor and Low Vision Associate, Charity wears many hats. At Tracy’s Little Red Schoolhouse, she supports Kim Shoffner in planning, shopping, and teaching S.E.E. students during activities and camps. At the Community Low Vision Center (CLVC), Charity assists Toni Fraser and customers by answering calls, managing inventory, processing sales, and helping individuals find the aids and devices best suited to their needs.

Reflecting on her journey, Charity shares, “It’s truly been an honor to work here. I came to IFB as a S.E.E. student needing help refining my skills, but I remain as an employee using those skills, I learned all those years ago to help not only our S.E.E. students but also those in the community. I’m so thankful to everyone at IFB for all the support and opportunities you’ve given me over the years.”

Outside of work, Charity’s passion for singing and musical theatre shines. Singing since the age of three, she has performed with the Winston-Salem Symphony and at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. She was also named the winner of the 2016 National Blind Idol Competition. Some of her favorite roles include Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Jane Porter in Tarzan, The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Pilgrim in Black Nativity with the North Carolina Black Repertory Company.

In her free time, Charity enjoys reading, crocheting, knitting, traveling, and spending time with her supportive family. Her parents, Charlie, and Heather, along with her siblings Kevin, Isaac, Isaiah, Grace, and sister-in-law Alexis, are her biggest cheerleaders.

 

Update: Christmas Plans for the Asheville, Clemmons and Winston-Salem Facility Employees!

Get ready to have a ton of fun celebrating this holiday season! We will be distributing Christmas hams in Winston-Salem and Clemmons on Thursday, December 12, supervisors will distribute hams to their departments and admin staff will pick up hams on the plant floor. Location will be announced. Asheville will be distributing hams on Thursday, December 19 at the end of the day. Distribution details will be announced.

On December 19, at all locations, Christmas festivities will begin at 11:30am, during normal break-times. Employees will be treated to a traditional Christmas lunch.

• Asheville lunch provided by Boxcar Grille
• Winston-Salem and Clemmons lunch provided by Canteen Catering

We also look forward to a week of festivities starting on Monday, December 23!

• Monday, 12/23 – Pajama Day (please stay within the company dress code)
• Tuesday 12/24 – Christmas Fantasia Day – wear your Christmas colors, sweaters, hats, etc.

Note, there will be a workday early dismissal on December 24 (Christmas Eve). Dismissal will be at 1 pm all employees report to work at 7:00 am. and all employees who clock out no earlier than 1 pm will be paid for the remainder of the scheduled workday. For all those to which this applies, please schedule your transportation accordingly.

 

Reminder: IFB Solutions Annual Staff Giving Campaign

As we continue our IFB Solutions Annual Staff Campaign, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has already contributed or continues to support us through payroll deduction. Your generosity makes a real difference!

If you wish to change, increase, or stop your monthly giving, please notify Naomi at nvenable@ifbsolutions.org by December 13. Otherwise, we’ll be delighted to distribute appreciation gifts, generously sponsored by Allegacy Federal Credit Union—see the picture below for a preview!

Additionally, everyone contributing $20 or more will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a beautiful gift basket on December 19, provided by a generous donor.

WHY: To raise funds to sustain employment and training of our employees and our community services:

1. Training for IFB employees, employee support groups and activities, transportation, medical assistance, and community outreach.
2. Low vision assistance at Community Low Vision Centers in Asheville, and Winston-Salem.
3. Specialty low vision tools and equipment to children with unique vision needs at no cost through the Focus on Literacy program.
4. S.E.E. activities.

HOW: There are different ways you can participate in the annual Staff Campaign 2025:

• Fill out and sign a payroll deduction form before December 13, 2024.
• Donate with cash or check.
• Donate online at https://ifbsolutions.org/donate/

As always, donating to IFB Solutions Staff Campaign is not mandatory, but rather your philanthropic choice! Join us and be a part of this movement.

Thank you for your commitment to our mission. Your contributions fuel our shared success!

Warm regards,

Tatiana Russell, Grants and Development Manager

 

IFB Programs Update: Learning About Blindness (L.A.B.)

Kim Shoffner, IFB Solutions Programs Manager, recently spent time with 17 Occupational Therapy Assistant students from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, guiding them through Sensitivity to Blindness training. The session provided valuable insights into working with people who are blind or visually impaired. “The students walked away with a better understanding of how they can make a difference in their chosen careers,” Kim shared.

IFB Solutions has long offered these trainings to help the general public experience what it’s like to “walk in our shoes.” During the session, students explored assistive technology, practiced walking with a cane while blindfolded, learned about various eye conditions, discovered guide dog etiquette, and got hands-on experience with Braille.

Community Low Vision Center Updates

Asheville and Winston-Salem CLVC December Sale!

The Community Low Vision Center team wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays by offering 20% off everything in stock for the month of December! Bring your shopping list and stop in!

CLVC Item of the Week:

Kitchen Items for $4.95 and up

There are many options to choose from, such as:

• Flexible high contrast cutting boards.
• Elbow length oven mitts.
• Say When, liquid level indicators.
• Double Spatulas
• And much more!

If you have questions or are interested in any of the weekly items, please contact your local CLVC for assistance.

The Beat Riddle

Thanks for strolling you found the answer!

Question: What is a snowman’s favorite game?

Answer: freeze tag!

 

From Our Community

Pop-Up Gift Shop in TAD’s Room, Dec. 16

Hosted by the AAA Committee and the Winston-Salem CLVC

Looking to support a blind-owned business this holiday season? Visit the Joy’s Unique Boutique Pop-Up Christmas Shop!

• When: Monday, December 16 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
• Where: stop by the TADs room during your lunch break and explore unique treasures and amazing deals!

Featured items will include:

• Jewelry, Purses, Totes
• Candles & Bath Salts
• Goodies & Hoodies
• One-of-a-kind treasures

Custom gift baskets available for order! Don’t miss the chance to find the perfect gift and support a great cause.

For more details or to place a custom order, contact: Joyce Spencer-Mintz at joysuniqueboutiquenc.com or call (336) 896-9392.

 

Enjoy a safe holiday season: decorate safely!

Submitted by Angela Jordan, IFB Solutions Director of Compliance, Environmental Health and Safety 

Decorating is one of the best ways to get in a holiday mood, but emergency departments see thousands of injuries involving holiday decorating every season.

When decorating follow these tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

● Keep potentially poisonous plants – mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis – away from children
● If using an artificial tree, check that it is labeled “fire resistant”
● If using a live tree, cut off about 2 inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption, remember to water it, and remove it from your home when it is dry
● Place your tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources, making certain not to block doorways
● Avoid placing breakable ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower tree branches where small children can reach them
● Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors, and choose the right ladder for the task when hanging lights
● Replace light sets that have broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections
● Follow the package directions on the number of light sets that can be plugged into one socket
● Never nail, tack or stress wiring when hanging lights, and keep plugs off the ground away from puddles and snow
● Turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house

 

HR & Opportunities

Primary Care vs. Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

For more information, reach out to Tammy Whitmire-Powers, IFB Solutions Benefits Administrator at twhitmire-powers@ifbsolutions.org.

Make the best decision when faced with an illness or injury. Learn the difference and understand when to visit your primary care provider, an urgent care clinic, or the emergency room. Follow this easy guide here: PRIMARY CARE VS URGENT CARE VS EMERGENCY ROOM.

 

Reminder: Practical Savings Approaches and 403(b) Retirement Savings Accounts

For more information, reach out to Tammy Whitmire-Powers, IFB Solutions Benefits Administrator at twhitmire-powers@ifbsolutions.org.

Join us on December 10, 2024, for an exciting Information Session with David Googe from Voya Financial. He’ll discuss the importance of 403(b) accounts and how you can take charge of your financial future through smart savings and investments!

30-minute sessions will be scheduled between noon and 5:00pm.

• Hourly employees should let their supervisors know if they are interested in attending a session.
• Hourly Admin and salary employees may contact Tammy Powers, Benefits Administrator, to schedule a time to attend.

Unable to attend? Please email twhitmire-powers@ifbsolutions.org. We will connect you with David Googe for 403(b)-retirement account information.

 

New Job Announcements

For all current openings, visit https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs?clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

For more information, please contact a member of the recruitment team at careers@ifbsolutions.org.

IFB Beat Phone Lines

English line: 336-245-5691

Spanish line: 336-245-5663

 

Zoom Meeting Links

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Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576
PASSWORD: 92638
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