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Living Life After 50
March 2025 Woman’s Faith Sustains Her In Everyday Life See Page 10
Allen County edition ReAChing FoRt WAyne And SuRRounding CountieS Vol. 37, No. 11
www.seniorlifenewspapers.com
Blind chapter tirelessly assists Workers for the
visually impaired
By ROD KING Feature Writer
It got its start because of the horrors of war. The Indiana Association of Workers for the Blind officially began in 1917 in Indianapolis as a way to assist veterans blinded during military service in World War I. Since then, it evolved into a state-wide organization helping all blind persons and those having some vision but was considered legally blind. Numerous active chapters sprung up all over the state. Today, however, the Fort Wayne chapter is the only one that has survived. Even the state organization was dissolved a few years ago. According to President Ron Collins, the mission of the organization is to assist all legally blind individuals in coming together to discuss issues of common significance, participate in social activities, provide community service and dispense charitable assistance to members when needed. “Our goal, he stated, is to keep visually-impaired persons from becoming isolated, lonely and subsequently depressed because of their disability. Our constitution requires the I, as president and at least onethird of our board of directors, be totally blind or have significant visual impairment,” Collins said. The all-volunteer, tax exempt,
not-for-profit organization consists of about 50 visually-impaired persons and sighted members. Sighted members serve as drivers and fulfill other roles in the organization, which cannot be discharged by the visually-impaired. Monthly meetings are held at churches and other facilities around Fort Wayne, which host its members and provide lunches. Collins noted that the organization is not religious but welcomes all individuals regardless of who they are as long as they meet the requirement of being either legally blind or wishing to volunteer to assist those who are visually impaired. “We provide our members an annual Christmas party, a summer picnic and various other activities of interest to our membership, “ said Collins. A visit is planned later this year to Sweetwater Sound. For many years, Workers for the Blind hosted a bowling league, but COVID and the lack of available drivers curtailed that activity. “We’re hoping to resume the league on a limited basis starting in April,” said Collins. In addition to its social activities, the chapter is mindful of its responsibility to others who are less fortunate. It has established outreach programs to support the “Boundless Energy” playground that is geared to individuals with disabilities.
ANNUAL PARTY —The Indiana Association of Workers for the Blind officially began in 1917 in Indianapolis. The all-volunteer, tax exempt, not-for-profit organization consists of about 50 visually impaired persons and sighted members. It provides its members an annual Christmas party, a summer picnic and various other activities. Photo provided by The Indiana Association of Workers for the Blind. PICNIC IN THE PARK — Workers for the Blind hosts a picnic every summer for its members. Photo provided by Workers for the Blind.
It also collects canned goods at meetings, which are donated to food pantries, and also donates daily-living items to nursing homes. The Association of Workers for the Blind for many years was well known for its annual White Cane fundraiser in partnership with area Kroger stores. Unfortunately, COVID curtailed that effort and
Kroger subsequently modified its in-store solicitation policy, eliminating that source of income. “We periodically receive grants from foundations,” said Collins. “But these are significantly restricted because we are primarily a ‘social services’ organization and not a ‘charitable’ organization. In the past, Lions Clubs were a major supporter of our organization, but because
their membership numbers are dwindling, so has their level of support. We have received some financial support from Anthony Wayne Services Foundation and the League for the Blind and Disabled.” More information about the Fort Wayne Chapter of the Indiana Association of Workers for the Blind can be found on its website, workersfortheblind. org or call (260) 7045001.