If you’re interested in volunteering, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in Columbus County over the next few weeks. Many community organizations are gathering donations, hosting events, and giving away food and and supplies in the area. If we have missed out on your non-profit event, please be sure to send them our way to be published in The Good News completely free of charge.
Be sure to check out the Good News every Wednesday morning for your weekly dose of updated events, gatherings, community announcements, and happy stories. You wouldn’t want to miss any of it.
Let us know if your church, civic group, association, or non-profit has markets, VBS, revivals, 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 ccn.cfaircloth@gmail.com. We will get them out there for absolutely free.
The Daisy Vereen Brooks and the Facts of Life Community Outreach Program are hosting their Nourish Hope distribution event every Wednesday at 11 a.m. to N.C. and S.C. residents. The food drive is held at the church located at 24678 Peacock Road in Tabor City. For more info, visit their website at www.factsoflifeoutreach.org.
The Columbus County Community Farmers Market opens on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. and every Saturday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Come shop fresh and local and support vendors and farmers in our community.
The market has fresh produce, farm-fresh eggs, homemade breads, jams and jellies, local honey, fresh juices, handmade jewelry, custom tumblers, crafts, games for all ages, live music, and so much more. The market is located at 132 Government Complex Drive in Whiteville.
Friends of the Rube McCray Memorial Library in Lake Waccamaw will continue their summer reading program for kids today, July 15, at 10 a.m. at the library. ‘Unearth a Story’ is a dinosaur-themed event with prehistoric stories and activities.
If you can’t attend this week’s meeting, the group will meet again on July 22. The RMML is located at 301 Flemington Drive in Lake Waccamaw.
Downtown Whiteville will have their Open-Air Market again on Thursday, July 16, from 4-8 p.m. at Vineland Station. There will tons of produce, handmade items, dirty sodas, and good eats at the event. Over 15 vendors will be available for your shopping needs. Vineland can be found at 701 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
The Artesia Alumni Association will have their scholarship fundraiser on Friday, July 17, starting at 11 a.m. at the Thurman garage located at 847 Hallsboro Road. The group will have a yard sale set up, and they will be selling hot dog lunches at the event.
The meal will include two hotdogs, potato chips, water, or a soda for $10. For additional information about the fundraiser, call Rose Boone at 910.987.9385, Mary Smith at 910.840.4414, or Alice Gaskins at 910.918.1659. To prepay for hot dogs or set up delivery, call Herman Lewis at 661.609.4637.
Fair Bluff will have their annual Watermelon Festival on July 25 with activities beginning at 7:30 a.m. with watermelon contest registration. The weigh-in and awards for biggest melon will be at 10 a.m., and the youth and adult watermelon eating contests will be at 10:30 a.m. The youth and adult watermelon quality awards will be presented at 11 a.m., and the parade will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Just when you thought the day was over, the Fair Bluff Rotary Club’s duck race will be happening at 3 p.m. Vendor’s, arts and crafts, and other fun activities will also be available throughout the day. For more details about the festival, visit www.watermelonfestival.fairbluff.com. For vendor information, call 910.840.4091 or 910.649.7202.
Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center is looking for volunteers at the organization. Opportunities may include light cleaning and decluttering, greeting families, playing with children, organization of donations, and outside tasks like yard work for those interested in helping.
If you would like to help out, please send your interest to danielle.nolan@bghnc.org or call her at 910.356.0322. The next steps will be given to you through the Boys and Girls Home of NC volunteer opportunities. All proper screening, including background checks, will be required for all volunteers.
Speaking of the center, they are now collecting clothing, school supplies, and other items through July 30. The donations needed include new or gently used clothing, new underwear, school supplies, snack items, hygiene products, and laundry detergent.
The center serves children from birth to 18 years old, so donations of all sizes and age ranges are appreciated. The items will be given out at an event on July 31. The center can be found at 219 North Lee Street in Whiteville.
Baldwin Branch Missionary Baptist Church will be providing a reentry service after incarceration on July 31 from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on the church’s campus in the Rev. G.F. Pone Fellowship Hall. This is an invitation for individuals returning to society after incarceration.
The church can be found at 4047 N.C. Highway 242 South in Elizabethtown.
Whiteville Police Department will be participating in the 2026 National Night Out on Aug. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at the station. There will be free food, music, games, giveaways, and lots of family fun. Residents will have the opportunity to meet the local police officers and other emergency response members, gain safety information and resources, and fellowship with neighbors in their community.
National Night Out is an annual event aimed at enhancing community safety and fostering police-community partnerships. It encourages neighborhoods to engage in activities such as block parties, festivals, and safety demonstrations, promoting camaraderie among residents and local law enforcement. WPD can be found at 117 East Columbus Street in Whiteville.
Movies on Madison will be returning on Friday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville. The next film in the series will be The Iron Giant. This free event is sponsored by the International Paper Foundation.
Museum doors will open at 7 p.m., and the movie will start upstairs at 8 p.m. Arrive before showtime with natural science activities on the museum floor.
Please remember that this is a family-friendly event, so no pets, coolers, alcohol, or smoking is permitted. Refreshments will be available for purchase. For more information, call 910.788.5100. The NCMNS-W can be found at 415 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
The museum is also offering Nature Storytime and Playdates throughout the summer. The programs will be available through August, with Nature Storytime evert Thursday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Playdate with Nature at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
The Columbus County System of Care Community Collaborative will be partnering with Southeastern Community College to host the Back-to-School community event on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on the SCC campus. The free event is designed to support children, youth, and families by connecting with them with valuable resources, educational information, school supplies, health resources, and fun family-friendly activities as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
They are currently seeking community agencies, nonprofits, healthcare providers, educational organizations, faith-based organizations, and other community partners to participate as vendors. There is no cost to set up.
Those interested can email Holly.Niebauer@trilliumnc.org by Friday, July 25. For other information, call Erin Warlick at 910.617.6149 or send an email to ebosley@avantagebeh.com.
Lake Waccamaw residents will be participating in their community wide yard sale on Labor Day, Sept. 7, beginning at 7 a.m. Those who are planning to sell are asked to place a sign or a flag in your yard to let folks know you are open for business.
Shoppers are invited to come out and explore, shop, support the Lake community, and find your next treasure. The fourth annual event will span from Jefferson Road, Flemington, Lake Shore Drive, Canal Cove Road, Waccamaw Shores, and the whole Wooded Acres neighborhood. Updated details will be posted to the Lake Waccamaw Community Information Page on Facebook.
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 open, we are open for business.
