Valentines Day is right around the corner, and many organizations in Columbus County are showing just how a little love can go a long way. This is no shortage of fundraisers and collection drives, so consider giving when you can and helping where it’s needed throughout the next few weeks.
Don’t see your organization’s event listed? Let us know if your church, civic group, or association has markets, plays, gatherings, or fundraisers that you want published in The Good News. Would you like your church’s weekly services to be added to our Community Church Listings? Send all your submissions to crystalfaircloth@columbuscountynews.com or ccn.cfaircloth@gmail.com. We will get them out there for absolutely free.
Put on your skates and roll the night away every Saturday night at the Anchorage Camp. Doors are open from 7-9:30 p.m., and admission is $12 per person. Children 3 and under get in free, and there is no admission fee for adults with one paying child.
For more information, call 910.646.4111. The camp can be found at 412 Lake Shore Drive in Lake Waccamaw.
Folks in Fair Bluff now have a public food pantry in town. Take what you need and leave what you can in the little box in front of Johnny’s Drive-In. The box still needs to be painted and decorated, so the restaurant is welcoming any local artist to come put their talent to work on the pantry.
Southeastern Community College Athletics will have their First Pitch Dinner on Jan. 22 from 6-8 p.m. at Vineland Station in Whiteville. This special evening brings together the community, SCC baseball team, and new athletic staff as they kick off the spring season. Guest will enjoy dinner catered by Joe’s BBQ and hear from guest speaker Steve Mintz.
Tickets are available now and all proceeds will directly support SCC Athletics and student athletes. Reserve your seat at https://bit/ly/4rThTBN.
Congratulations are in order for Lula Bell Ganus, Tiffany Stewart, and Rock Wilcox at Nakina Middle School. The kitchen staff received a one hundred percent sanitation rating for their hard work and care of the school’s cafeteria.
The Angel House in Whiteville provides a comforting environment during difficult times to patients and their loved ones, and your generosity can help ensure that families have access to food and refreshments during visits. The Care Center Family Kitchen needs donations of canned sodas, bottled water, individual bags of chips, Little Debbie Cakes, individually wrapped cookies, Lance Crackers, and K-cups for the Keurig coffee maker.
The donations can be dropped off at 206 Warrior Trail in Whiteville any day of the week between 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Go to the side entrance and ring the bell. If you have any questions, please call Karen Fowler at 910.642.9051 or 910.840.1258.
The Sheepdog Foundation is now enrolling youth 8-12 years old in the Troop Hard Charger Program. Not only is it accessible, local, and affordable, but it’s also veteran lead with military style standards. The kids will learn athletics, survival, martial arts, trades, and more.
The group will meet three times a week and on select weekends. Uniforms and gear will be issued, and meals will be provided at each session. Parents interested in signing up their child can email info@sheepdoggdn.com . A program overview is available at www.sheepdogfdn.com/program-overview.
The Columbus County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism will be having their 2026 Annual Meeting and Mingle on Jan 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 for members and $50 for non-members, and the event will be held at the Vineland Station Depot.
You can register and pay online at www.thecolumbuschamber.com or call 910.642.3171. Vineland is located at 701 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
East Columbus Junior/Senior High School has some new faces around campus. Jessica Gore is joining the team as the new middle school assistant principal, Robert Williams is molding young minds as the seventh-grade science teacher, and Andrew George is striking up a tune as the band director. Welcome to the Gator family.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m. for a book signing with author T.A. Spencer and his new novel ‘Where the Cypress Weeps.’ The program will be held at the Lake Waccamaw Depot in collaboration with the museum, library, and several book clubs in the area. Refreshments will be served after the program.
The museum can be found at 201 Flemington Drive in the town of Lake Waccamaw.
Finders Keepers Thrift Store in Whiteville is now collecting donations of new baby essentials for the Living Hope Pregnancy Center. Items needed include diapers, wipes, baby wash and shampoo, and onesies (new with tags).
The drive will end on Feb. 9, and donations can be dropped off at the store located at 1138 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
You could win a big prize while supporting a great organization with the Columbus County Dream Center raffle. Tickets are $20 each, and you could bring home $1,000 in cash, a brand-new tablet, or a set of Apple AirPods.
All proceeds from the event will support the center’s mission of providing safe spaces, enrichment, and opportunities through their youth programs. The drawing will be held on Feb. 12.
To purchase your tickets, you can Cash App them at $CCDREAMCenter or Venmo them at @CCDREAM. For more information on how to contact the facility or for a list of youth programs, visit https://ccdreamcenter.org/dream-center-programs-1.
If you’re still making plans for Valentines Day with your loved one, then consider planning a dinner date for a good cause. The Lightkeepers at Safe Harbor Baptist Church will be hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to support their youth group.
The event will be held on Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. at the church, and you can dine in or carry out. Plates are $10 each and include spaghetti, salad, dessert, and your choice of tea, lemonade, or water. The church’s address is 27001 Andrew Jackson Highway in Delco.
The Family Birthing Center at Columbus Regional Healthcare System is inviting expectant mothers in their third trimester and their partners to attend birthing classes at the facility. Space is limited, but they will accommodate all interested participants.
The class will include topics like what to expect during your birth experience, the benefits of breastfeeding and how to be successful, a tour of the center, and a meet and greet with the staff. Refreshments will be served at each session.
The event is free, and each session will run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Classes are scheduled for Feb. 21, March 21, April 18, May 23, June 13, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12.
To register or for more information, call Heather Nobles at 910.625.4785 or send her an email at heather.nobles8990@gmail.com. Classes will meet at Baldwin Woods OB-GYN located at 221 Jefferson Street in Whiteville.
The sixteenth annual Southern Farm Days will be back March 20-22 at the Boys and Girls Home of NC Horse Complex. Columbus County News will be live during the event, and we would love to spotlight your small business.
If you are interested in sponsoring a live stream or would like to be featured as a vendor during Farm Days, message us via the CCN Facebook page. We can’t wait to hear from you.
If you’re considering enrolling your little one in a Pre-K program, now is the time to get those applications in for Columbus County Schools and Whiteville City Schools. Children must be four years old by Aug. 31 to be eligible to attend.
The program prioritizes children from families that meet certain income requirements, children with disabilities, or those who are English language learners. Other specific criteria and application procedures may vary by county, but the overall goal is to ensure that children who are most at risk for academic challenges have the resources and support they need to thrive.
Approval letters will begin being mailed by March 1. To find out more, visit https://www.columbus.k12.nc.us/page/pre-k-info.
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 ccn.cfaircloth@gmail.com or visit us at our new location at 125 Suite A, East Main Street in Whiteville. We love visitors. If the door is unlocked, we are open for business.
