The duties of the family support division shall be to prepare and maintain a complete register of the blind persons within this state and to collate information concerning their physical condition, cause of blindness and such additional information as may be useful to the division in the performance of its other duties as herein enumerated, and to investigate and report to the general assembly from time to time the condition of the blind within this state, with its recommendations concerning the best method of relief for the blind; to adopt such measures as the division may deem expedient for the prevention and cure of blindness; to establish and maintain at such places within this state as the division may deem expedient shops and workrooms for the employment of blind persons capable of useful labor, and to provide superintendence and other assistance therefor and instruction therein; to compensate the persons so employed in the manner and to the extent that the division shall deem proper; to provide such means for the sale of the products of the blind as the division shall deem expedient; to act as a bureau of information for the purpose of securing employment for the blind of this state elsewhere than in the shops and workrooms of the division and to this end the division is authorized to procure and furnish materials and tools and to furnish aid and assistance to blind persons engaged in home industries and to buy and sell the products of the blind wherever and however produced within this state; to provide for the temporary cost of the food, raiment and shelter of deserving blind persons engaged in useful labor; to ameliorate the condition of the blind by such means consistent with the provisions of sections 209.010 to 209.160 as the division may deem expedient; provided, however, that no part of the funds appropriated by the state shall be used for solely charitable purposes; the object and purpose of sections 209.010 to 209.160 being to encourage capable blind persons in the pursuit of useful labor and to provide for the prevention and cure of blindness.