By Joan F. Simoneau, Community Reporter
Marlborough – Joy Wilson is a familiar face at the Price Chopper Market in Marlborough where she has been bagging groceries for more than 20 years. Although visually impaired since birth, she has maintained an active existence. To help her vision, the Marlborough Lions Club presented her with a Galaxy barcode reader at a recent meeting.
The reader not only identifies the item but provides information on the contents – ingredient by ingredient, according to Lions President Mark Gibbs. It also lists everything from a calorie count to grams of sugar, salt, and complete cooking instructions.
“This type of information could save the life of a person who has a life-threatening allergy with certain ingredients,” said Gibbs.
After receiving the reader, Joy stated: “It would be nice to know that I am opening a can of corn, and not being surprised with a can of peas.”
She was subjected to excessive oxygen in the incubator at birth which affected her vision. It was Lions Club research funds that helped find a cure for that condition which is almost non-existent in recent years.
Wilson has also worked in a bakery, and played keyboards and sang professionally at various venues through the years.
