The activity effectively changed perception of people from sympathy to empathy towards the blind.•NAB got 15 employment offers for their visually challenged members•542 people who visited the restaurants signed on as volunteer members of NAB•The program received immense PR in the press and Television media, valued at approximately 150,000 USD.The program boosted the morale of the blind volunteers. For the first time, they could confidently ask a sighted person –May I help you?