Marie Lim

Written by Belva Seaberry

Marie Lim’s friendly, happy outlook has made her a favorite at the Society for the Blind of Sacramento where, for 7 years, she has been a volunteer visitor to blind clients in their homes.

Regina Brink, Volunteer Coordinator at the Society, praises Marie as an “excellent, conscientious, and dependable volunteer, and just what we are looking for!” Volunteers for the blind are really personal assistants, Regina says, because they are helping clients pay bills, shop, and meet appointments. It takes an understanding and respectful person to gain trust and balance the clients' need for help with their desire to be as independent as possible.

Marie became a resident of Sacramento when she retired from her groundbreaking job in the Bay Area. No, she wasn't in construction. She was actually the very first person to become a certified medical lab assistant in the state of California. Back in those days there were no officially designated assistants in medical labs, although the need was great. When the job was created Marie was chosen to be the first officially recognized in the position. “A wonderful, stimulating job,” she says, that kept her busy. So busy, that when she did retire, she had “job withdrawal-not knowing what it was like to be housebound all day.”

Looking around for something to do, Marie remembered how difficult it was for poor people to find efficient and affordable transportation to get to doctor's appointments. This led to her volunteering for Elder Escorts, which later moved under the auspices of Paratransit but is now dissolved. Driving her own car, Marie transported the elderly disabled who couldn't use a bus. She quickly became attached to her three regulars: “They became like family. The very elderly are so wise, funny; eccentric-and crabby at times-but just wonderful!”

At the Society for the Blind, Marie again found herself filling the need for routine transportation to medical appointments and shopping that most of us take for granted as we jump into our cars. Helping with personal paperwork and just sitting down and visiting are important, too. Marie appreciates how the blind taught her how to deal with their handicap, such as how to communicate directions in the environment, and how to nurture their desire for independence while helping them in ways they deem necessary. “That's the fun part,” Marie says, “learning something new.”