The generosity of volunteers benefits individuals from a wide array of backgrounds. Just ask Mary Hogan. Mary has been a volunteer for the Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC), previously Radio Reading Service of the Rockies, since May of 2006.

AINC serves the unique and important function of providing transcribed print material for the blind and visually impaired in Colorado. In today's information-driven world, having access to the daily news, grocery, discount and store ads, job openings, housing opportunities, calendars of events, obituaries, health, school, and community issues that we normally take for granted is crucial for Colorado's visually impaired.

AINC volunteers, like Mary, provide this information to the visually impaired by reading the publications aloud and digitally recording the information. The recordings are then broadcast to the AINC's clients (for free) through a host of media, including cable television, receivers, and even podcasts.

By providing this important information, Mary and her fellow volunteers fulfill AINC's mission of empowering the lives of the visually impaired, decreasing their sense of isolation, increasing their independence, promoting their education, and fostering their connection with the community.

Mary is especially proud of her volunteerism because AINC is currently the only service of its kind in Colorado, reaching more than 25,000 Coloradans. More importantly, Mary feels her work for AINC is vitally important because visual impairment is a problem that has the potential to affect all of us later in life. In fact, 70 percent of AINC's clients are the elderly.

"One can only imagine how limiting it would be to lose your vision as you get older," says Mary. "AINC provides an excellent opportunity for the elderly to listen to the things they use to be able to read and enjoy."

But reading the print media is not Mary's only volunteer duty. She also works with the AINC staff to recruit and train new volunteers. "Once the volunteer readers are trained, they pretty much operate on auto pilot. They simply schedule a time to record in one of AINC's six studios, or they can record from home using remote software," says Mary. "It's very flexible," she adds.

AINC is always looking for eager volunteers, particularly those fluent in Spanish, to help bring this important service to Colorado's visually impaired. If interested, visit www.aincolorado.org for more information on how to get involved.

For information about volunteering with Audio Information Network of Colorado or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904, or go to our Volunteer Central.