Annual Bling Gala Raises Money and Boosts Students

Annual Bling Gala Raises Money and Boosts Students

The eleventh annual Bling Gala, put on by the Garner Mid-Day Rotary Club Foundation, will be on December 7 at 6 p.m. at the Grand Marquise Ballroom.

Proceeds from the black-tie optional event will raise money for the local Back Pack Buddies Program as well as scholarships for Garner senior high school students.

The evening consists of a gourmet dinner, drinks, entertainment by The Chairman of the Board and silent and live auctions. This year’s fundraising goal is $60,000 and the Gala has raised $375,000 over the last twelve years.

This year's event will feature The Chairmen of the Board.

The Garner Back Pack Buddies program sends food home on Fridays to over 140 elementary school children from eight Garner schools who come from food insecure homes, meaning that they rely on school meals for much of their nutrition.

“We just want to make sure the kids are fed. You can’t learn if you’re hungry,” Rita Hines, fundraising chair, said.

The program began when a retired elementary school social worker brought the need for homeless children to have weekend meals to the attention of the Garner Mid-Day Rotary Club.

Over the years, it expanded to include meal boxes for breaks from school, and partnered with Able to Serve, a non-profit organization that provides people with disabilities opportunities to actively participate in the community. Able to Serve provides the regular weekly legwork along with a group of volunteers, consisting of many retired educators, and the Gala provides much of their funding.

“We raise the money, but the folks that shop and serve do it every week,” John Hodges, treasurer of the Rotary Club, said, adding that the schools are instrumental in helping identify children in need. “We really have to trust in the guidance counselors and social workers to tell us the need in the school.”

Information on purchasing tickets, sponsorships, donations and items for auction can be found here.

Tickets to attend should be purchased by Wednesday, December 4.

The Wall That Heals is coming to Garner

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Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Announces 2020 The Wall That Heals Tour Schedule

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica Wall and Mobile Education Center spreads healing legacy of The Wall and educates about the impact of the Vietnam War

Go to garnerwall.com for more information.

For Immediate Release October 30, 2019

Washington, D.C. – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) has announced The Wall That Heals national tour schedule for 2020. The Wall That Heals exhibit includes a threequarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center.

The 25th season of The Wall That Heals will begin on February 20, 2020 in Marco Island, Florida and visit 35 communities during the year. The traveling exhibit honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the 58,276 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.

“We received 116 applications to host The Wall That Heals in 2020 and we are excited to announce the cities that we’ve selected as hosts for our 25th touring season.

The Wall That Heals mobile exhibit replicates The Wall experience in Washington, D.C. and provides veterans and their family members the chance to experience The Wall in their own community,” said Jim

Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF. “Hosting the exhibit provides the opportunity to honor and remember those who have served and sacrificed and offers an educational experience for visitors on the impact of the Vietnam War on America.”

The Wall That Heals 2020 Tour dates include:

• Marco Island, Florida February 20 – February 23

• Garland, Texas February 27 – March 1

• Del Rio, Texas March 5 – March 8

• Ashland, Miss. March 12 – March 15

• Charlotte, N.C. March 19 – March 22

• New Bern, N.C. March 26 – March 29

• Boydton, Va. April 2 – April 5

• Garner, N.C. April 16 – April 19

• Tunkhannock, Pa. April 30 – May 3

• Belvidere, Ill. May 7 – May 10

• Findlay, Ohio May 14 – May 17

• Columbus, Ohio May 22 – May 25

• Riverview, Mich. May 28 – May 31

• Winchester, Ind. June 4 – June 7

• Harrison, Ohio June 11 – June 14

• Chisholm, Minn. June 25 – June 28

• Tama, Iowa July 2 - July 5

• Wheaton, Ill. July 9 – July 12

• Clinton Township, Mich. July 16 – July 19

• Bedford, Pa. July 23 – July 26

• Nahant, Mass. July 30 – August 2

• Norwalk, Conn. August 6 – August 9

• Champlain, N.Y. August 13 – August 16

• Townsend, Mass. August 20 – August 23

• Middletown, N.Y. August 27 – August 30

• Evansville, Ind. September 10 – September 13

• Marysville, Kansas September 17 – September 20

• Blackfoot, Idaho September 24 – September 27

• Longview, Wash. October 1- October 4

• La Pine, Oregon October 8 – October 11

• Corona, Calif. October 15 – October 18

• Hawaiian Gardens, Calif. October 29 – November 1

• Pinetop-Lakeside, Ariz. November 5 – November 8

• San Antonio, Texas November 12 – November 15

• Cabot, Ark. November 19 – November 22

The Wall That Heals is generously sponsored by USAA and transported thousands of miles across the country each year through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and the trucking industry.

More than 300,000 people visited The Wall That Heals exhibit in 2019. Since its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been on display in nearly 600 U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005. The Wall That Heals is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1982.

The Wall That Heals is the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C. and includes the largest Wall replica that travels the country. Two VVMF staff members lead volunteers on site, educate visitors and students, and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall.

More information can be found at:

www.thewallthatheals.org.

About The Wall replica

The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. With the replica at this size, visitors are able to experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C.

Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors are able to do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. The names are listed in order of date of casualty and alphabetically on each day.

Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back in to the center/apex. The first and last casualties are side by side at the apex of the Memorial.

The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 144 individual panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Modern LED lighting from the top of The Wall provides readability of The Wall at night.

About the mobile Education Center

The Wall That Heals is transported from community to community in a 53-foot trailer.

When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in American history.

The mobile Education Center exhibit includes: digital photo displays of “Hometown

Heroes” - service members whose names are on The Wall that list their home of record within the area of a visit; digital photo displays of Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died as a result of their service; video displays that teach about the history and impact of The Wall; educational exhibits told through items representative of those left at The Wall in D.C.; a replica of the In Memory plaque; a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the Vietnam War.

The exhibits tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the conflict, and are designed to put American experiences in Vietnam in a historical and cultural context.

About VVMF

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through programs, ceremonies and education materials.

To learn more

about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.

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For more information:

Heidi Zimmerman

202-765-3773

Community of Hope Ministries Celebrates 15 Years of Service with two Anniversary Parties

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Amy White had no idea that Community of Hope Ministries would thrive and far out-live its four years of federal funding when Garner First Baptist offered classroom space to the fledging program. The idea of expanding the after-school tutoring program to nine separate ministries was years in the future.

But 15 years after Community of Hope was formed to tutor at-risk children, it is celebrating its anniversary with two commemorative events _ a concert on Oct. 4 at the Garner Performing Arts Center and a gala on Oct. 11 at the Grand Marquis Ballroom.

Admission is $10 at the door for the concert. Advance tickets are needed for the gala and are $100.

COHM didn’t plan to blow its own trumpet on its anniversary but was asked by two different groups whether the ministry would be the recipient of the fund-raising events. The 15th anniversary made the tie-ins perfect.

“We are always amazed with how God has provided for us and has used us,” said White, the executive director of COHM.

The two anniversary events are designed to celebrate 15 years of service and to generate funding. All proceeds from both events will support COHM.

The Concert

The Celebration of Hope concert at 7:00pm on Oct. 4 at the Garner Performing Arts Center will feature vocalists Janette Godwin, Kathryn Godwin Wise and White. They will be accompanied by The Band of Hope and will perform Country, Broadway, Motown and Gospel songs. There are no advance tickets.

The same cast will perform another show on Sunday evening October 6 in Scott Concert Hall in the Taylor Bott Rogers Fine Arts Building at Campbell University. Proceeds go to S.A.F.E. of Harnett County, a non-profit that provides shelter and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

“They have been doing the show in Harnett County in past years, but wanted to expand and support us as well,” White said.

The Gala

The birthday gala on Oct. 11 at The Grand Marquise Ballroom is being funded by another friend of COHM. The evening will include dinner, dancing and a silent auction.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the gala are available at communityofhopeministries.org.

COHM is the only survivor of the three start-up programs who received the initial federal grants to help elementary-aged children who were struggling academically. And COHM is thriving.

Watch the video above to learn more about Community of Hope Ministries.

Jackie Johns Sr. Park Dedicated During 4th Annual Smith Drive Park Reunion

It was an afternoon full of love, friends, food, dignitaries, community, and the Lord on Saturday as Rand Mill Road Park was renamed in honor of the late councilmember Jackie Johns Sr., during the 4th Annual Smith Drive Park Reunion.

The official renaming was a response by the town council to an outpouring of community support that resulted in a petition with over 1000 signatures. (read more here).

After a welcome by Shelby Smith, Dr. Kevin Sturdivant of Springfield Baptist Church provided the scripture reading and Reverend Tracy J. Bell, Pastor at New Bethel Christian Church, led the assembly in prayer.

Michelle Collins, who spearheaded the effort for the park renaming and became known as the ‘the lady with signatures for Jackie Johns’ recapped the efforts of the community which afforded this momentous day, a mere 8 months after Jackie Johns’ death.

Elected officials from all levels and branches of government were in attendance. Congressman David Price, North Carolina Supreme Court Judge Mike Morgan, Councilmember Kathy Behringer, and Mayor Ronnie Williams provided remarks and remembrances.

Other elected officials in attendance were Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker, Wake County School Board Member Monika Johnson-Hostler, Councilmember Ken Marshburn, and Councilmember Elmo Vance.

White balloons were released during a moment of silence and remembrance of not only councilmember Johns but any and all loved ones lost.

Capping off the dedication, Mayor Williams and Jackie John Jr. were surrounded by a crowd of phones and cameras eager to capture the moment as the chanted countdown expired, revealing a beautiful sign emblazoned with “Jackie Johns Sr. Community Park”.

The temporary sign was gorgeous and colorful but will eventually be replaced with a permanent carved sign common to other signs at Garner parks.

It was a fittingly beautiful day of remembrance and community.

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The Smith Drive Community Reunion Committee

• Dot Avery

• Keith Avery

• Sean Clark

• Laverne Collins

• Michelle Collins

• Jackie Estee

• Paula Grange

• Rodney Griffs

• Katrina Griffis-Wood

• Clyde Gulley

• Cheryl Hinton

• Greg Hinton

• Joseph “Bunk” Hinton

• Rodney Hinton

• Lisa Smith

• Shelia Smith

• Walter Smith

• Breanna Watson

• Barbara Turner Watson

• Cora Turner Watson

• Ronnie Woods

• Barbara Leak Worth

Good Deeds to Accompany 9-11 Anniversary

If Mary Elizabeth Twiddy’s plans unfold as expected the 18th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks will be celebrated in Garner by acts of kindness and community building.

Mart Elizabeth Twiddy

She is asking people to do something to make the town a better place before the anniversary of the terrorist attacks and to share those acts with other community members during the September 11th Community Dinner.

The free dinner will be held at Logan’s Roadhouse in Garner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Wednesday, SeptEMBER 11th.

There is no program at the event, just the sharing of stories in an informal setting. Participants can come late and leave early.

Twiddy, an Edward Jones financial advisor, wanted to commemorate the heroes of 9/11 and other first responders while celebrating community.

Participants are encouraged to go to Sept. 11 Community Dinner on Facebook and indicate that they plan to attend, although registration is not necessary. Participants who post their community-building activities on social media are encouraged to use #garner911giveback.

The primary purpose of the event is to honor first responders and to build community, but financial donations will be accepted. All funds received will be given to The 200 Club of Wake County.

The 200 Club provides immediate financial help to the families of area first responders who lose their lives in the line of duty. Ten families have been assisted since the club was started in 2000.

Logan’s Roadhouse is graciously sponsoring this event.