The Elizabethtown Rotary Club learned about Bladen We Care on Wednesday at their luncheon meeting. Mac Campbell addressed the group regarding the activities of Bladen We Care which is celebrating its 29th year.
Campbell told the group about the upcoming Bladen We Care Gala and the Bladen We Care Byron H. Gooden Golf Tournament. The Bladen We Care Gala is planned for Friday, April 20, 2018, from 7 until 11 p.m. at The Venue at White Lake. Attire is casual with an “island” theme.
The Bladen We Care Byron H. Gooden Golf Tournament is set for Thursday, April 26, 2018. The morning event will kick off at 8:30 a.m. and the afternoon event will start at 1 p.m. The event uses a Captain’s Choice format and you can bring your own team or be assigned to a team.
He said all of the funds raised through its two main fund raisers remain in Bladen County to help Bladen County residents who are in need. Campbell said the main goal is to assist Bladen County residents who “fall through the cracks” or those who are having to wait several months to receive any type of assistance. He emphasized Bladen We Care will not pay for any pain medications.
Campbell said the main qualification someone must meet in order to receive assistance from Bladen We Care is to be a Bladen County resident.
“Sometimes, we have folks who don’t live in Bladen County but who live close to Bladen County and who have relatives who live in Bladen County, making requests,” said Campbell. He added unfortunately, Bladen We Care cannot approve requests for individuals who reside outside of Bladen County.
He said over its 29 year history, Bladen We Care has raised over $2 million which was used to assist with healthcare causes and organizations in Bladen County.
Campbell said Bladen We Care has also assisted with things other than medications at the pharmacy. For example, Campbell said early on Bladen We Care assisted a woman who was on Hospice care with the installation of a telephone line.
Campbell added Bladen We Care has also established scholarships available to Bladen County residents at Bladen Community College and UNC-Pembroke.
In 2017, Bladen We Care spent $119,333, according to Campbell. Also in 2017, the group made 182 patient grants $29,833 and other grants for $89,500, said Campbell. Bladen We Care also assisted some agencies in the county in addition to individual grants. Some of the groups assisted were Bladen Crisis, the Bladen Baptist Association, Southeastern Carolina Crossroads, the Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy with the Health and PE program, and Bladen Community College and UNC-Pembroke nursing scholarships.
In 2018, Bladen We Care has spent $10,106 through March and have made 42 grants to individuals said Campbell.
About Author
