San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind a top-5 manufacturer in city

A box of chin cups wait for the next round of work under a contract with the federal government. A box of chin cups wait for the next round of work under a contract with the federal government. Photo: EN Communities 2014 Photo: EN Communities 2014 Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind a top-5 manufacturer in city 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

On a recent workday at San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, sewing machines and cutting belts hummed as hundreds of workers at the non-profit assembled pens, aircraft floorboards and Marine helmet chinstraps on deadline for the federal government.

It's quite the scene to behold, considering nearly 80 percent of these workers are blind or visually impaired.

“This is not a pity party,” Director Nancy Lipton said on a recent tour of the 81-year-old organization's 70,000-square-foot facility at 2305 Roosevelt Avenue. It's the city's fourth-largest manufacturer, and aims to serve San Antonio's estimated 50,000 blind or visually impaired residents through a mix of social and educational programs.

It also handles government manufacturing contracts, providing jobs for many visually impaired San Antonians.

“We work hard, side-by-side, because we're working for the government,” she said. “Everything we make here has to go out on time.”

There are about 90 “lighthouses” in the country, of which San Antonio's is the third largest, Lipton noted. San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind is one of a handful that includes a manufacturing wing as well as a series of social and educational service programs. On the manufacturing side, the center's 420 employees produce a mix of products ranging from pens and pencils to 36-piece Marine helmet chinstraps and Boeing and Lockheed aircraft floorboards. And Lipton estimated that the program's service wing reaches about 6,000 individuals a year.

Workers at the facility are full-time employees earning anywhere from $8 to $12 an hour and have health insurance and 401k options. There's a mix of job options available, filled by both blind and full-sighted employees, according to Lipton.

“Across the country, blind and visually impaired unemployment is at 70 percent,” said Lipton. “So many people in that situation end up just sitting on the couch, or become a burden of the state. It's in everybody's (interest) to find a way to work, and have that dignity.”

Peter Flores, 45, came to the center in 2006 from Chicago. Starting as a machine operator, he worked his way to foreman over the last seven years.

“This job has its challenges,” said Flores, who was born legally blind. “I have to know my limitations, but I've come a long way.”

Flores earned his associate's degree in architectural graphics from St. Phillip's College.

The foreman oversees a new $120,000 cutting belt — donated by Valero — that is used by the center to cut sleeve segments for military jackets.

“I've just been focused on making sure we don't waste material,” Flores added. “We have to make sure our marks are right. There's so much to do.”

The non-profit relies on a mix of donations and government contracts to keep operations running at its four S.A. facilities — two manufacturing centers, one senior center and one downtown center.

“We produce 30,000 items here a day,” said Lipton, adding that her workforce's 78 percent makeup of blind or visually impaired employees easily meets the U.S. government's contract-mandated 75 percent level. “And it's not just blind people sitting next to people (who can see) — we have people with master's degrees sitting next to people who never got their GEDs. There's no judgment here.”

For more information about the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, call 531-1532 or send an email to Kari Bridges at kbridges@salighthouse.org. You can find their products — marked with the “Skilcraft” logo — in about 40 local Walgreens.

jgerlach@express-news.net