Seniors at the George Washington Carver Nutrition Center circled around the new closed circuit television set as if it were an exciting toy, with everyone taking turns twisting knobs to enlarge the text and pictures being displayed on the TV screen.

They all seemed thrilled to be able to see the pictures and words clearly without having to squint or lean up close.

Next to the CCTV was a computer outfitted with Zoomtext, a program that magnifies everything seen on the monitor and can even read aloud documents written in Microsoft Word.

These items, along with a scanner and printer, were presented to the G.W.C. Nutrition Center on Monday as a gift from the Visually Impaired People who are Very Important People organization.

V.I.P. founder William Bowman said the non-profit organization was able to donate the items through a grant from Weed and Seed, a City of Selma Community Development program designed to improve Ward 8.

“Three and a half years ago, someone from the nutrition center asked if I could do something to help them. That really stuck in my mind and I started doing everything I could to get this equipment,” Bowman said. “I got rejected from every grant I applied to. People kept saying this wasn’t important. Finally, I applied to a Weed and Seed grant and got a call saying I had been approved.”

Bowman said the computer and CCTV are for the use of those in the community who have a visual impairment. The equipment will help citizens read letters and books, look a photographs and do some writing of their own.

“This was William’s project,” said Johnny Moss, chairman of the V.I.P. board of directors. “Doors closed in his face, but he still got the job done, even if he had to scratch on those doors.”

Carolyn Powell, also a V.I.P. board member, said there is over 3,000 people in Dallas County who have a visual impairment.

“This gift gives these people an opportunity to do things, like reading their Bible, that had been inaccessible,” she said.

Ray Davis, owner of Ray Davis and Company, explained to the seniors how the computer operated and what they could do on it.

“It’s refreshing to see somebody who goes out and tries to make life better for people,” Davis said.

Bowman has first-hand knowledge of just how useful the equipment donated to the G.W.C. Nutrition Center is to someone who is visually impaired.

“I have all this same equipment at home. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to function,” Bowman said.

Though Bowman presented the computers to the seniors as a surprise gift, he ended up with a surprise of his own.

Mayor James Perkins, Jr. stopped by the nutrition center to present Bowman with a proclamation thanking him for all the works he has done for the visually impaired people of Selma.

The people who seemed most excited about the day were the seniors themselves, who were eager to start using the new machines.

“We are just very thrilled,” said Lettie Lewis. “This was a great gift for us.”