CHESAPEAKE — The Community Mission Outreach (CMO) is celebrating its 30th anniversary of service this year.

“It was started back in 1985 by a group of local churches,” Don Moore, chairman and one of the founders, said. “We help the needy people in this area, the eastern end of Lawrence County.”

The CMO helps provide food and clothing to between 350 and 400 families each month, which equals out to be between 900 and 1,200 people, Moore said.

The CMO operated out of the Chesapeake Methodist Church and the building that is now the Chesapeake City Hall before moving into its current location, the Chesapeake Community Center.

To celebrate 30 years, the CMO is having a gathering Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the community center.

“We wanted to have a little get together to celebrate those 30 years,” CMO treasurer Donna Plybon said. “We’re going to have some desserts and different things.

“We will have pamphlets and photos from years ago about the different things we do and to show how much we’ve grown.”

The event is open to the public.