Northeast Sight Services Holds Ribbon Cutting of Renovated Accessible Teaching Kitchen

EXETER — At Friday’s ribbon cutting ceremony for Northeast Sight Services renovated accessible kitchen, President/CEO Amy Feldman said the kitchen represents more than just a room.

“It represents opportunity, independence, and community,” Feldman said. “We can’t wait to see all the ways it will be used to change lives.”

Northeast Sight Services, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals who are blind or visually impaired achieve independence, proudly cut the ribbon on its newly renovated accessible teaching kitchen.

Feldman said the renovation project was made possible through the efforts of the Kitchen Aides — a Leadership Northeast 2025 Core Team — who partnered with the organization to make this vision a reality.

Feldman said the new kitchen is designed with accessibility in mind — featuring adaptive tools and modifications that make it easier for individuals living with vision loss to learn cooking, nutrition, and other independent living skills.

“This space will serve as a hub for hands-on education, empowering clients to build confidence, foster independence, and thrive in their daily lives,” Feldman said.

Nour Elbattah Wijahat, Northeast Sight Services Board Member and member of the Kitchen Aides Leadership Northeast Core Team spoke at the event.

“Today, we don’t just cut a ribbon — we open a door to opportunity, accessibility, and independence for so many people,” Wijahat said. “Let us not forget those at the center of it all — the clients that Northeast Sight Services serves.”

The ribbon cutting was attended by Leadership Northeast staff members, community leaders, clients, and supporters who came together to celebrate the meaningful impact of the project.

For more than a century, Northeast Sight Services has provided resources, training, and support to individuals across Northeastern Pennsylvania who are blind or visually impaired.

“This newly renovated kitchen stands as a symbol of the organization’s ongoing commitment to promoting independence and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all,” Feldman said. “Cooking is more than just meal preparation — it’s a gateway to independence, and this renovation ensures Northeast Sight Services can continue to empower clients to master these skills safely and effectively.”