The month of September is just rolling in, but Columbus County already has tons of events on deck over the next several weeks. There are food drives, plate sales, and worship services on the calendar, and a couple of places have your spooky adventures lined up for October. Let’s take a look at what this week’s edition of The Good News has in store.
One little fellow made a big splash over the weekend in Lake Waccamaw. Nine-year-old George Richard Edwards III, a Wilmington native, is among the youngest swimmers ever to complete the annual four-mile ‘Take the Lake’ challenge. He managed the feat in just under three hours. Congratulations on your accomplishment.
The Columbus County Health Department will be sponsoring a free food drive Thursday, Sept. 4, beginning at 10:30 at the office. This is a great opportunity to pick up free food for your family, connect with the department, and meet other community members.
No registration is required to receive assistance. Interested parties only have to show up. CCHD is located at 304 Jefferson Street in Whiteville.
The Tabor City Fire Department will have a pork chop plate sale for Safety Officer Donnie Strickland this Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Plates will be $10 each. TCFD can be found at 113 West Fourth Street.
Mt. Olive Original Freewill Baptist Church will be holding their third annual ladies conference called ‘Scripture and Tea’ on Sept. 6 starting at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary.
Sister Sherry Carter will be singing and speaking at the event, and a tea party will follow service. The church is located at 439 Old Glade Road, Whiteville.
The Hallsboro United Methodist Church is currently collecting gently used clothing for school-aged children for the Laundry Exchange Program at Hallsboro Artesia Elementary School.
The purpose of the charity is to make sure that children have clean clothes available whenever there is a need. If you have donations to give, contact the church via their Facebook page.
Losing a loved one is never easy, but Liberty Hospice wants to help you through it. The center will be hosting a free nine-week grief support group from Sept. 4- Oct. 30. The group will meet each week from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Public Library located at 111 North Cypress Street.
Each session will include a short video with accompanying discussions offering hope, healing, and support along the grief journey. If interested, call Jovona Bellamy at 910.640.8039, or send her an email at jbellamy@libertyhomecare.com.
Whiteville, Tabor City, and Chadbourn police departments will be joining the N.C. Highway Patrol, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, and Whiteville Fire for the ‘Wellness Health Fair’ hosted by the Donayre Cancer Care Center of Columbus Regional Healthcare Systems on Sept. 5 from 1-4 p.m. at Vineland Station.
This free community gathering will feature health screenings, resource booths, mental health information, Kona Ice, and the ‘Battle of the Badges’ cornhole tournament. Vineland can be found at 701 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for a fun-filled day in Fair Bluff on Sept. 6. The ‘Sweater Weather and Yard Sale Treasures’ event will run from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Riverside Drive next to the Riverwalk. Folks can eat at the Collard Wagon food truck, participate in the First Saturday Market fishing contest, gain a new animal during the Livestock Swap, or shop the vendors and artisans set up at the market.
You can find out about all the awesome events going on in the town by visiting www.fairbluff.com.
If you’re looking for something fun to do in September, the Fair Bluff Senior Center has you covered. The first event of the season will be a Bingo game with Gentiva on Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. -12 p.m. at the facility, and an immunization clinic will take place at Walgreens on Sept. 11 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The center is located at 1100 Main St., Fair Bluff.
The Milk B4 Meat Ministries will host their third annual ‘Night of Praise’ on Sept. 13 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park of America. The event is free, and there will be food, concessions, and a bake auction.
Pastor Buddy Seay, the Beaverdam youth, CRC Band, Tammy Walton, Carla and Redemption, Alyssa Strickland, Candace Sumner, and the Transformation Praise Team with special guest Lisa Pierce are among the lineup of singers and speakers for the evening.
The VMPA is located at 6354 James B. White Highway South, Whiteville.
Speaking of the Veterans Memorial Park of America, the park will host their second annual ‘Faith in Motion: Car Show and Praise Extravaganza’ on Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the park. The event is sponsored by PFWB Men’s Fellowship.
The entry fee is $25, and there will be cars, live music, and family friendly activities. Call Steve Edwards at 910.770.2168, Travis Sykes at 910.640.8024, Jeff Strickland at 910.649.7459, or Jordan Small at 910.625.8915 to sign up.
Shizzy’s Wildcat Rescue in Fair Bluff has some awesome news coming from the western part of the county. After years of hard work and raising fences, the rescue is currently preparing to welcome the first of many of their furry guests to the facility.
Four foxes that were extracted from deplorable conditions at a fur farm will soon be calling the sanctuary home, and Shizzy’s is seeking donations needed to cover ongoing vet care and food for the animals.
The sponsors will receive an exclusive habitat sneak peek of the foxes before they are introduced on social media, along with behind-the-scenes footage of daily sanctuary life. To find out how you can help, visit www.shizzyswildcatrescue.org.
The Annie Catherine Pridgen Community Development Foundation is partnering with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern N.C. for a food distribution drive on Sept. 20 at Jerusalem Chapel Freewill Baptist Church. There is no cost, no I.D., or proof of income needed for assistance.
Pastor Eric McCullum and his congregation help provide the volunteer power that makes the ACP’s monthly food drive possible, but new volunteers and supporters are welcome to lend a hand. Those interested can visit www.acpproject.org or email info@acpproject.org. The church’s address is 6224 Chadbourn Highway in Chadbourn.
If you aren’t able to catch ACP’s monthly event, St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church will open their food bank every Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Freeman Community. The church is located at 507 Moneyhole Road in Bolton.
Grissettown-Longwood Fire Department will be opening their haunted trail for another season of spookiness every Friday and Saturday evening from 7-10 p.m. during the month of October and from 7-10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, for Halloween night.
Tickets are $20 per person, and you can get yours by calling 910.287.3030 or by visiting www.grissettownfire.com. The station can be found at 758 Longwood Road in Ocean Isle Beach.
The Town of Chadbourn will host at trunk or treat event at Town Hall on Oct. 25 from 2-4 p.m. Any local business is welcome to attend and promote themselves. Bring business cards, candy, and any other goods that might interest a crowd.
Those interested are asked to contact Town Manager Jason Robinson at 910.654.4148 or Kendall Bullock (IT) at kbullock@townofchadbourn.com.
Families First will be celebrating 30 years of strengthening survivors with their 90’s themed anniversary fundraiser on Nov. 8 from 6-9 p.m. at Vineland Station Depot. ‘Columbus and Bladen’s Got Talent’ can’t happen without performers, so the organization is putting out the call for singers, dancers, actors, musicians, jugglers, magicians, artists, animal acts, and everything in between.
If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of the show, you can contact Families First by emailing them at info@familiesfirstnc.org or by calling 910.642.5996. The deadline to sign up is Sept. 20.
Remember to check out our Good News tab throughout the week. We love to hear about all the great things happening around you. Email your submissions to thegoodnews@columbuscountynews.com or crystalfaircloth@columbuscountynews.com; call us at 910.914.6056 or just drop by our office at 1015 South Madison St., Whiteville. We love visitors. If the blinds are open, we’re open for business.
