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Donald Sirkin

Coastline Christian Schools in Alameda Tours Sirkin Center
LightHouse News

Coastline Christian Schools in Alameda Tours Sirkin Center

Students on manufacturing floor at Sirkin Center

Friday, March 10, LightHouse CEO Sharon Giovinazzo and COO Brandon Cox welcomed 38 fourth grade students from Coastline Christian Schools in Bay Farms, Alameda for a tour of Sirkin Center.
 
“We loved welcoming our Alameda neighbors, the Coastline Christian Schools students and staff, to the Sirkin Center. Educating others about the wonderful work LightHouse does by providing opportunity and empowerment to the blind is an important part of our mission,” said Sharon Giovinazzo.

With guide dog Pilot by her side, Sharon led the children around the manufacturing floor of the Sirkin Center facility, as Brandon Cox and Spencer Meyers, LightHouse Industries Technical and Quality Director, explained the different machines and their functions. As cleaning products were being mixed and bottled and tissue rolls cut and packaged, the children learned from our dedicated team of blind and low vision staff at the Sirkin Center how the machinery and tools have been adapted to become accessible and efficient for the employees who operate them.
 
“It’s not every day we get to be in a manufacturing facility, so that itself was educational and fascinating!” said Coastline Christian Schools Educator, David Chiu. “On another level, the tour helped to further support our understanding surrounding individuals who navigate through life with disabilities. Part of our school’s goal is to cultivate leaders who are compassionate, resilient, and innovative. These are qualities we feel are exemplified in LightHouse and the community it supports/supports it. We hope this field trip will inspire our students as well as give them firsthand interaction with people and topics they study.”
 
At the Sirkin Center, we manufacture the highest quality eco-friendly cleaning products and tissue packets. Currently, we produce tissue packets which are included in MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) utilized by soldiers and firefighters in the field. We also sell commercial-size sanitary paper rolls for use at camps, schools, and other facilities, and a line of PRIDEClean chemical cleaning products. These products are non-toxic, contain no ammonia and no phosphates and are biodegradable. Producing and promoting the use of eco-friendly products is important to LightHouse Industries, and we enjoy sharing this message with our community. We are also very proud to produce Skilcraft products, which are partnered with the National Industries for the Blind and Ability One Commission – a program that supports LightHouse’s dedication to increasing employment for the blind and visually impaired. 
 
“We are delighted to introduce the students at Coastline Christian Schools to intersection of STEAM career paths and accessibility for the blind community. We hope to inspire young minds to pursue careers in STEAM with a commitment to creating a more universal experience for their peers with disabilities,” comments Brandon Cox.

Sirkin Center
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Sirkin Center

Mission:

At the Sirkin Center, we aim to employ individuals who are blind and manufacture the highest quality eco-friendly cleaning products and tissue packets. These products, which serve communities and companies around the world, will provide the utmost utility to clients, and demonstrate the strength and caliber of our Center.

History:

Named in honor of Donald Sirkin, an extremely successful businessman in the contractor insurance and bonding industry and the Lighthouse’s most important donor, the Sirkin Center is a budding entrepreneurial heart of a growing set of social ventures and light manufacturing run by the LightHouse for the Blind. Located in Alemeda, California, the Sirkin Center also houses the LightHouse’s industrial employment program.

Acquired in 2012 and newly renovated in 2016, the Sirkin Center provides employment opportunities at competitive wages for people who are blind and visually impaired. Real time, on-the-job training has been a longstanding opportunity at the LightHouse. From the 1920’s to the 40’s, Lighthouse operated Blindcraft, where blind employees crafted baskets, brooms and wicker furniture. That tradition continued and was updated into the 1990s, when federal manufacturing contracts for the blind allowed us to modernize production which continues to this day.

Today, the Sirkin Center provides employment and can help employees get experience to advance their careers in customer service, shipping and receiving, inventory management and light manufacturing.

70% or more of the labor is provided by staff members who are blind or have low vision.

Products

Currently, the Sirkin Center has a light-manufacturing plant making the tissue packets which are included in MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) utilized by soldiers and firefighters in the field. We also sell commercial-size sanitary paper rolls for use at camps, schools and other facilities, and a line of PRIDEClean chemical cleaning products.

PRIDECLEAN products are non-toxic, green cleaning products used at private and public facilities around the country. The products are non-toxic, contain no ammonia and no phosphates, are biodegradable and contain zero to low VOCs.

LHI also produces Skilcraft products partnered with the National Industries for the Blind and Ability One Commission.

Contact:

If you are interested in renting space or employment opportunities and products of the Sirkin Center, located at 2175 North Loop Road, Alameda, CA 94502, please contact edi@lighthouse-sf.org or 1-833-694-7422.