I am proud to claim Bladen County as my home….I know, a large, rural, depressed, but proud area of North Carolina.
When something needs to be done, over and over again, volunteers step up….The attitude seems to be, if not me, Who? and if not now, When?
Activities on any given weekend prove the point….This weekend..
Special Olympics today at Elizabethtown Middle School…A parade of athletes begins at 9:30 a.m from downtown Elizabethtown our US 701 to the school….The E-town Fire Department Color Guard will present the colors around 9:45 and Opening Ceremonies begin around 10 and the Olympics continue til noontime. This year, Tacoma “Taco” Amberger will be remembered. “Taco” a student at West Bladen High School died recently. Elaine McIntyre and Eddie Knight are contact volunteers…McIntyres number is 910-549-8876 and Knights number is 910-648-2683.
Dixie Youth volunteers are hosting a movie night at Wateree park at 8 p.m. this evening. A family oriented movie will be featured. Bring a blanket and chair and enjoy. Admission is $2, concessions will be on sale and all proceeds benefit the area Dixie Youth Program…Volunteers are making it happen.
The Annual Bladen We Care Gala is set for 7 til 11 p.m. this evening at The Venue at White Lake. Tickets are $100 per couple. Come, enjoy the music of the Black Water Rhythm & Blues Band on the shores of White Lake. This year’s theme is ‘The Wear White Party.’ The event is sponsored by Smithfield-Farmland & Murphy-Brown LLC. All proceeds benefit Bladen County area residents who are falling through the cracks in our medical system…Bladen We Care provides stop-gap assistance to residents county-wide at the rate of $1,000 to $1,500 per week, not per person..but total…and no paid staff..Volunteers raise the money…volunteers purchase the tickets and volunteers provide the assistance…
Thank God for volunteers…
Looking ahead to Saturday, volunteers at Windsor UMC near Ammon are doing a benefit fundraiser for Garrett Smith who has some medical issues. Chicken and rice plates that include a roll, drink and dessert. The dinner is from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and a silent auction as well…Everything has been donated and all proceeds benefit Garrett..
There are other events and we have most listed in our Events section….Next Wednesday, Bladen County Boy Scouts supporters will hold their annual “Investment in Character” fundraiser at the Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church activity center.
And on the same day, the Bladen County Shrine Club will sponsor a fish fry from 11-7 at the Food Lion parking lot. Plates are just $7.
Thank God for volunteers.
Don’t ever question the value of volunteers. Noah’s Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals.
Volunteers are not paid—not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.
Volunteers are love in motion.
robert g hester
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