For more than 50 years, both visually impaired and sighted people have found friendship and a helping hand in the ‘Friendly Circle for the Blind’. But the group’s monthly gatherings could soon become thing of the past as it has only 10 members now.

Based in the U.S., the group was found in 1953 to offer blind people an outlet to get out of the house and meet people. It had nearly 100 members then.

The group seeks new members to continue.”It’s a little difficult now because we’re getting older, and we can’t seem to find any new members," said Rachel Accorsi, the group’s President. "But we still come to the different churches (for the gatherings), and we still are a friendly group."

Accorsi was only 18 years old when she attended the group’s Christmas party in its first year. "I still had my eyes then," she said. The Friendly Circle must have made an impression, because she never stopped going to the meetings. Accorsi lost sight in one eye at the age of 36, and the other at 44.

Visually impaired and sighted people all are welcome to join the group.

Anyone interested in the Friendly Circle for the Blind can contact Marie Murphy at 508-528-2565, or Roz Sedgwick at 508-668-7365. Or email David Railey at: driley@cnc.com