Thomas Bove of Farmingdale is a legally blind Army veteran who is trying to help others like himself live as normal a life as possible.

Diagnosed in 2000 with Leber's optic atrophy, a genetic degenerative retinal disease that leads to acute loss of vision, Bove began collecting sight-assisting tools for the blind.

"With the idea that I, in turn, give them to blind people who cannot afford to get any on their own," he said. "This has been one of my dreams ever since I became blind. I just think that if I help you and you start to get your life back together. it just makes me happy."

A married father of two, Bove has lived in Farmingdale for the past 35 years and worked as an auto mechanic after serving in the Vietnam War. Eight years ago he became involved with the blind and the visually impaired support group, VIP Group in Lynbrook. They meet at St. James Church on Thursdays.

"It is the only group of its kind in Nassau County," he added. "We also need donations of any kind like low cost luncheons and places to go."

He is also involved with the Helen Keller Center, Catholic Charities and the Blind Support Group of the Northport VA Hospital.

Bove also authored a booklet on being blind. It can be obtained by contacting him at Catholic Charities or the vets hospital eye clinic of Northport.

"People just don't understand what it's like to have something like blindness happen to you," he added. "It becomes a whole new world for the one it hits and the whole family too. Mainly there is so much to know and do to get all the help you need, and no one place tells you everything. That's where I and my booklet come in to play."

Welcome donations include magnifiers, CCTVs, canes, sunglasses, screen readers, talking clocks or "anything else that a blind person can use," said Bove.

For more information on donating items, email tbovesr@optonline.net or call 293-0695.