PICKENS COUNTY – The Pickens Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind will celebrate its 30 year anniversary on Dec. 5.

The goal of the Chapter when it was first established was to have a time when individuals could get together with other blind individuals and their families for fellowship and emotional support. The Chapter’s mission then was to reach out to personas with visual problems and share ideas to help each other.

The Chapter has met in various places over the past 30 years such as homes, churches, city halls and in the Pickens and Easley hospitals. The group is currently meeting in the Easley Library.

Even without very much financial support, the group felt it was important to get together to share.

Mike Keasler was the first president of the Pickens Chapter. He works with Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative.

After the first couple of years, the Chapter realized they must not only help to educate the blind, but also to help educate the sighted about blindness. One of their goals was to assist in purchasing aids and appliances such as talking watches, white canes, tape players and computer speech software.

By 1992, the Pickens Chapter became a United Way agency in order to secure funding. The Chapter works with The Lions Club, who are knights of the blind and takes donations from generous individuals. Because of these two groups of people, the Chapter has reached and set new goals.

The Chapter places 90 percent or more of the funds raised into the people it serves. Thirty years ago, the budget was less than $100, but today, they budget is around $12,000.

Phil Patterson is currently the president of the Pickens Chapter. He got involved with the group at age 31 and hopes to continue to get more individuals involved in activities. He also hopes to encourage future leaders to set goals that will reach into the next 30 years.

The Chapter’s main focus is on what a person can do rather than what a person cannot do.

“Reaching goals and then setting new goals is the secret to growth,” said Patterson.

The anniversary celebration will be at Liberty United Methodist Church on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. and will include an evening meal. The church is located on Mae Street in Liberty.

If interested in helping the Pickens Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, call 878-6027 in Pickens and 850-7094 in Easley.