Working at Lions Industries if You Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Lions Industries for the Blind, Inc. in Kinston exists to provide employment opportunities for non-sighted persons “in a work setting that affords both income and dignity to the individual, with no compromise on the quality of the product.” That is our mission, and it is also the short version of this post. If you are blind or visually impaired and looking for work in eastern North Carolina, or you are helping someone who is, here is what we can tell you about the jobs.

Who works here and what gets made

We are looking for employees who are blind or visually impaired to help fulfill government and military contracts, and we also employ people with other serious disabilities. The work is manufacturing: sewn, embroidered and printed goods, most of them sold to the Federal Government. Name tapes, cloth mailing bags, cleaning swabs and maintenance manual cases are a few of the things made here, and every one of them goes to a customer who counts on it being right.

We are a nonprofit manufacturer and a participant in the AbilityOne Program, and we've been affiliated with National Industries for the Blind since 1976. In practice that means steady federal work to fill, and that's where the jobs come from.

We put our outlook this way: we believe that “the more we successfully grow, the more we can help our clients grow in independence and quality of life.” Growth here means more work, and more work means more people at the machines.

The two machine departments

Operator positions are periodically available in the Textiles department. The work there is sewing, including manual machine work and automated machine work. Sewn goods on our product list include the cloth mailing bag, which we've supplied since 1995, and the olive drab maintenance manual case.

If you have sewn before, say so when you call. If you haven't, ask what the Textiles department expects of a new operator. That is a reasonable question, and the answer will tell you more than a job title does.

Operator positions also come up in the Military Embroidery department, where employees run embroidery machines as well as specialized fusing and velcro equipment. This department needs usable vision. We say so plainly because you should know before you apply, not after.

If you aren't sure whether your vision meets that need, ask when you call. It's a fair question, and we would rather you ask than guess. The same call can cover the Textiles department, which is listed separately.

Office staff

We also have an office staff, with varying skill levels and specific areas of expertise required. If you have office experience, say so when you call, and say what kind of work it was. Office roles draw on a different set of skills from machine work, so being specific about what you've done helps whoever picks up the phone understand where you might fit.

It also helps to have a few things ready before you dial: your name and a phone number where you can be reached, the department you're asking about, a sentence or two on your work history, and any questions about the equipment. You don't need a polished speech. A plain description of what you've done and what you're looking for is enough to start.

How to ask about openings

Operator positions are periodically available, which means they are not open every day. The simplest way to learn what's open is to call and ask. Here is a short list to work from:

• Call (252) 523-1019. The line is staffed Monday through Thursday, 7 AM to 5:30 PM.
• Say which department interests you: Textiles, Military Embroidery or the office. Or say you're open to any of them.
• If you're asking about Military Embroidery, mention your vision plainly, since that department needs usable vision.
• Ask for the Employment Application Form and how to return it.
• Ask when positions next come up, and whether it's worth calling again.

What people who work here say

Rhonda G. wrote about her time with us: “I work here for 17 yrs. Great place to work. Good quality products. Great staff.” Robert O. put it more briefly: “It's a wonderful place to work.”

Seventeen years is a long stretch in one workplace. Notice that Rhonda mentions the quality of the products alongside the people. That pairing is the point of our mission: a job that provides income and dignity, and a product the customer can rely on, with no compromise on either.

If you're helping someone else look

Families, teachers and counselors often make the first call. That's fine. Ask the questions above and write down the answers, including the name of anyone you speak with and the days and hours to try again. We're at 4126 Berkeley Avenue in Kinston, and the person you're helping can decide from there what to do next.

To ask about openings, call (252) 523-1019, Monday through Thursday, 7 AM to 5:30 PM. The employment page on this site has the same number and more about the work.