Contributed by Jeffrey Bryan, Wilmington
Friday, November 6, 2020, is the distribution day for this year’s Annual Rogers Wish collection drive, which ran throughout October. As usual, many donations were brought in by a cordial outpouring of caring residents and organizations.
The distribution of the donations of blankets and sleeping bags for the homeless will take place in the parking lot at the Bladen County Library in Elizabethtown.
This year, Roger’s sister Mariea Bryant partnered with the newspaper and library staff to make this beloved annual event happen again. Roger Grunder began his collection drive back in 2013 just before losing his life in a single car accident in the industrial park section of Elizabethtown.
Memorial rosemary and a plaque bearing his name are found in the library gardens adjacent to this year’s distribution site.
The Bladen Journal received a prestigious award in 2014 for the annual event in a statewide competition for the Best Community Service Project.
Roger Theodore Grunder has left us with his annual care package. Helping others in need was always Roger’s Wish.
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