Sight Loss Monthly Newsletter April 2026

Apr 1

9 min read

Our Mission Statement:

The mission of the Hull Foundation and Learning Center is to provide programs, facilities and services including social, educational, and recreational activities for people with blindness and sight loss.

*If you would prefer to receive this newsletter by email, please send an email to: oralhull@gmail.com

Hull Foundation Upcoming Events and Seminars:

April 6-10 - Spring Fling
April 18- 19 Community Yard Sale
April 23 One Day Fun Day - Hopscotch
April 29- May 13 - Membership Drive
May 5- 8 - Technology Seminar
May 25 - Office closed Memorial Day
May 30 - Annual Tea Party
June 7- 12 - Friends and Alumni
June 19 - Office Closed Juneteenth
July 3 - Office closed - Independence Day
July 21 - One Day Fun Day - Oaks park
August 1 – Golf Tournament with the Lions
August 16-22 Summer Adventure Retreat
September 7 - Office closed Labor Day
September 9- One Day Fun Day Fruit Loop
September 11-12 – Community yard sale at Oral Hull
September 24 – Lions Work Day
September 30- October 2- Daily Living Seminar
October 12 – Office Closed – Indigenous people’s Day
October 24 - Haunted Hull-O-Ween Fundraiser
October 26-28 - Cooking Seminar
October 29 - One Day Fun Day - Crow Hunt
November 11 – office closed – Veterans Day
November 17-20 - Arts and Hobbies Seminar
November 26-27 – Office closed – Thanksgiving
December 7 – 11 – Holiday Getaway
December 19 -Jan 3 -Office closed

2027
February 18 – 22 – Winter Retreat
March 23 – 26 – Daily Living Seminar

If you are interested in any of our social getaways, one day fun days, seminars and recreational retreats, please contact our office and sign up! Spots fill up VERY quickly, so jump in with both feet, save your spot and come out to Hull Park! If you would like to volunteer as staff or sponsor an event, please contact the office 503.668.6195.

Hot Off the Desk of Executive Director

by Creanna Gallegos

March was a lively month at the Hull Foundation and Learning Center, beginning with a successful Lions workday. The volunteer efforts made a clear impact as they sanded and stained the gazebo handrails and benches, refreshed the front gardens and the O’Keefe Garden, and even created a small strawberry patch that will offer a sweet treat for summer visitors.

In March we also celebrated the return of our One Day Fun Day program. A group of six participants enjoyed frozen yogurt together before taking on an escape room, making for a day filled with teamwork and laughter.

April promises to be just as full. Our community yard sale fundraiser will take place on April 18 and 19, bringing neighbors and supporters together for a fun weekend of treasure hunting and philanthropy. Later in the month, our next One Day Fun Day group will visit the Hopscotch Museum, an immersive multisensory outing designed to surprise and delight. Beginning on April 29, we will launch a two‑week membership drive, and we encourage everyone to renew or begin their membership during this period to receive a special thank‑you gift. Your support helps us continue providing programs, facilities, and services that enrich the lives of adults experiencing sight loss and blindness through social, educational, and recreational opportunities.

Who likes to travel?

by Kat Rogers - Independent Sight Loss Instructor

Hello everyone, this is Kat again with an update on travel apps for those of us with sight loss.

I think first I will start with one that you all might be familiar with. “Be my eyes”. Now, this app, which many of you know, will help you get around even in your own home. From finding out if your outfit matches to even reading your mail to you. But, You may not know this. “Be my eyes” is constantly upgrading its services. It has signed up to work with many airports around the world. When you call “be my eyes”, it will be connected directly to a volunteer who physically works at that airport and knows all of the ins and outs and shortcuts, and most importantly, the updates to any construction in the airport. Cool huh?

Another app for those of us with sight loss is called “Seeing AI”. This app is available on all platforms. It does require some getting used to. The app uses your phone's camera to point and read whatever signs or papers you may be looking at. It will also describe what’s in front of you. Such as, what gate are you at, where the taxi stand might be, or even what building you may be looking at, and if it is a major landmark, it can even tell you descriptions about some of them. There are still a few bugs in this one, but it is worth playing with. You can even program it to identify people.

Finally, one more app for this roundabout. It's called “Lookout”. Lookout uses your phone's camera. It can read signs from a distance. If you are a student, it will read what’s on the whiteboard. When traveling, if at a bus station, airport, or even at a landmark with information signs, the reading mode on Lookout will read them to you. This app will also describe images in great detail.

I would like you to try out these apps and see what you think. There are many apps out there that will help you travel as a person with sight loss. We each have our own likes and dislikes. If you have a recommendation you’d like to share, please send them to Klr97266@gmail.com.

Events

April 23 - One Day Fun Day to Hopscotch $50, an immersive art experience

May 5-8 - Technology Sight Loss Seminar, $300, 3 nights 4 day stay. Final day to register is April 28.

June 7-12 - Friends and Alumni Retreat. $600, 5 nights, 6 day stay. Final Day to register is May 25.

July 7-10 - Daily Living Seminar, $300, 3 night, 4 day stay. Final Day to register is June 29.

August 16-22 - Summer Adventure Retreat. Reached full capacity, waiting list is now open. Please call office to be placed on waiting list. Registration closes on July 16

FUNDRAISERS

April 18 - 19 - April showers bring May flowers plant sale and Community Yard sale

April 29 to May 13 - Membership Drive, become a member within these dates and receive a special thank you gift. Limited quantities available.

May 30 - Annual Tea Party in the Rainbow Lodge

Presale tickets OPEN NOW

https://luma.com/w0ipmb8w

August 1 - Golf Tournament at Mt View Golf Course in Boring. Call office to sign up a team or be a sponsor.

The Adventure in the Escape Room

By JeanneMarie Moore, Board Member

On March 25, HFLC had a fun day at an escape room in Gresham called “Cine Escape Room.”

Neither Luther nor I had been at such a thing before, so we drove up from Eugene to participate.

As far as I remember, none of us had done this before.

An Escape Room usually has some kind of theme. This room’s theme was “Speakeasy.”

There were nine participants: four sighted and five blind or sight limited people.

This house had at least three escape rooms.

How it works:

There were clues written in large print. I was originally disappointed there would not be Braille, as large print is completely out of my league!

When we arrived Mark, the owner, had spent several hours looking at the Braille alphabet code and got hold of a braille Dymo labeler and there were clues in Braille! I all of a sudden got fully into the experience!

We had 90 minutes to solve the clues about “returning the bar to Ruby” the former owner. The “bad guys” had forcibly taken it over. We had to find the jewelry, money and guns within the 90 minutes. If we didn’t solve it and put things together in time, “the big boss” would come and shoot all of us.

There were various clues: bottles which had rubber bands and could be opened longways with clues inside. There was a round magnet that unlocked the gun cabinet and labeled pictures on the walls with the names of various men and numbers associated with them. This is how we finally got the combination to the safes.

We had five minutes to spare when the door opened and another participant and I had our prop guns ready and aimed at "the boss" as he entered the room. We escaped the mob at Cine Escapes!

I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Mark, the owner, did not charge us for this adventure.

It was quite an experience!

Group picture inside the speakeasy Cine Escape Room for One Day Fun Day.

Support the Spaces That Support Our Mission

Our campus is the foundation of every program, every connection, and every moment of independence we create. Your gift today helps maintain safe, accessible facilities and grounds so adults with sight loss can continue to learn, explore, and thrive.

In March we requested donations to replace a hot water heater for Morgan Hall. A generous donor covered this cost in full. We will be replacing the hot water heater in April.

We are now raising funds for maintenance on our lawn mower. We have 23 acres with a vast amount of grass area.

Please consider donating to support essential maintenance and upkeep. Your generosity keeps our mission strong.

Please visit hullflc.org or send a check to

Hull Foundation and Learning Center

PO Box 157

Sandy, OR 97055.

Thank you to all of our donors for keeping hopes and dreams alive here at the Hull Foundation and Learning Center.

Thank You to our Volunteers

April was Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who help keep the Hull Foundation thriving. From maintaining our grounds and supporting project‑oriented work, to serving as sighted guides, assisting with facility upkeep, and helping run our program‑based activities — your dedication makes an extraordinary difference. We are deeply grateful for the time, care, and heart you pour into our community.

Our Lions Workday at the park was a big success! We had 24 volunteers! We would like to thank the Lions clubs from Gresham, Lake Oswego, Hollywood, Portland Bentham and Sandy, Wy'East Boarding School and our friends of the park for your time spent cleaning the grounds on March 28, 2026.

A group of volunteers from Gresham Lions club working around the daffodils in the flower bed near office.

Lake Oswego Lion Bonnie is sweeping back walkway of lodge.

Recipe

Peanut Butter Snack Cake

by Tina Christian - Sight loss Instructor

Ingredients:

2c. Flour

1 tbsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 Stick of butter room temp

1c. Granulated Sugar

1/4c. Brown sugar

1 1/4 c. Creamy peanut butter

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 Eggs

1 c. Milk

1/2 c. Peanut butter flavored chips

Preheat 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Tools needed: measuring cups and measuring spoons, 1 medium and 1 large bowl, mixer, 8x8 square pan, cookie rack

Grease an 8x8 square pan with butter. In a medium sized bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt—set aside.

In a large bowl cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Mix in peanut butter and vanilla. Add one egg at a time until blended.

Add dry ingredients one cup at a time until crumbly. Mix in milk and pb chips until combined.

Spread evenly in pan. Bake 45 mins. Cool 30 mins on a rack then flip out. Enjoy

Note: you can replace sugars with Swerve white/brown sugar for lower sugar option

Gardening Know How Quiz

by Kat Rogers, Independent Sight Loss Instructor

How much do you really know about plants? Garden puzzles are a great way to put your plant knowledge to the test while giving your brain a good workout. They also help you to brush up on your knowledge of different plants. Maybe you'll be inspired to add a few more to your garden.

QUIZ: Which Hydrangea Best Suits You and Your Gardening Style?

With so wide a variety of hydrangea to choose from, let's find the one that suits you best...

Hydrangeas are one of those plants that feel almost mythical, with the kind of beautiful blooms that stop you mid-stride on a summer walk. For all their soft, romantic charm, they’re also surprisingly practical. Sunny gardens, shady gardens, tiny balconies, sprawling woodland edges… You name it, there’s a hydrangea for it.

But here’s where it gets fun: Hydrangeas also have distinct personalities. Some are dramatic show-offs, while others are peaceful old souls. Some shrubs prefer structure; others thrive in wild, carefree spaces. And because plant love is personal, why not choose one that feels like you?

Whether you’re a hydrangea novice or already planning next year’s bloom color, this quiz will help you match your personality and your garden with the perfect variety of hydrangea, whether that’s the classic mophead to the elegant oakleaf, the resilient panicle to the quietly magical snowball hydrangea.

What kind of gardener are you, honestly? Hands-on and intentional; you don’t mind pruning or shaping.

You like plants that do their thing with minimal fuss.

You love structure, symmetry, and a “well-designed” garden.

You are a woodland wanderer at heart; you want soft, natural, romantic planting.

I’ll touch on each of these areas next month…. But if you have a preference, just let me know

Klr97266@gmail.com

Did you know?...

April is Sports Eye Safety Month

CVI Literacy Awareness Month

Women's Eye Health and Safety Month

Hull Foundation and Learning Center offers personalized low vision assessments where guests can explore adaptive tools tailored to their needs. Just call our office to get started—our team will guide you through the process and help you access the aids that best support your level of sight loss, including items you may be able to take home.