Organizations around Rowan and Cabarrus counties joined in a national effort to make a difference in their communities Saturday.
As part of national Make a Difference Day, Salisbury Academy sponsored a “Stuff A Bus” event Saturday at Catawba College. People brought items to support the Rowan County Animal Shelter, Rowan Helping Ministries and the Rape, Child and Family Abuse Crisis Council, stuffing a 32-passenger bus almost full.
Salisbury Academy students, teachers and staff and Catawba College baseball players helped load the bus and talked with people about the meaning of the day.
“It was far more than I had expected,” said Michelle Kovack, director of Salisbury Academy’s middle school. She said all the bus seats were full, some all the way to the ceiling of the vehicle. The floor was full and half of the aisle covered. Kovack said she was glad they didn’t decide to go with a smaller bus.
In their fifth year participating in the national event, members of the South Rowan High School JROTC program stretched the day to a week-long effort, collecting more than 2,000 pounds of canned goods for Rowan Helping Ministries.
More than 150 cadets brought in canned goods all week, the classes competing against each other. The Alpha class won, collecting 580 cans.
On Friday, cadets left notices on the doorsteps of China Grove residents that they would be collecting canned goods the next day, and 18 cadets canvassed neighborhoods Saturday morning. Maj. Gerry Ofsanko said the JROTC members collected a total of 2,776 pounds of food, exceeding last year’s total of 2,000. “We were quite pleased with that,” Ofsanko said.
Cadets took the truckload of food to Rowan Helping Ministries Monday. “It’s commendable that we have these young people who think to do something for someone else,” Ofsanko said.
The J.C. Price American Legion Post 107 chose to use this day to push a year-long effort to help children.
The organization recruited 25 people from Livingstone College to mentor and tutor students two nights a week. The program is called “Learning for a Lifetime” and began Oct. 1. Supporters are soliciting computer companies in hopes they’ll provide computers for the program. The mentors and students will participate in events through the rest of the year, including service projects, athletic events and educational programs.
Last week, they held a pizza party for the mentors and students, and on Saturday, they collected trash around the area of the college. The students also accompanied the veterans to the Central Children’s Orphanage in Oxford for their annual pilgrim day.
The program is still accepting students from the fourth through eighth grades. Anyone interested can inquire at the post, 1433 Old Wilkesboro Road, Monday and Wednesday between 6:15 and 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, the post will hold its annual Halloween party from 6 to 9 p.m. The event is open to the public and children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult.
In Cabarrus County, the Rimer 4-H Club chose NorthEast Medical Center’s pediatric playroom as its Make A Difference Day project. The club has participated in Make A Difference Day for several years and read about the playroom’s needs in the newspaper. The group bought and received donations of toys, games, books and clothing. With the financial support of Lutheran Brotherhood Branch 8512 and Target, they were able to purchase more items.
Members of this club who participated include: John Wesley Goff, Allison Goff, Kristen Parker, Karen Barbee, Brooke Hinson, Blake Hinson, Matthew Barrier and Jacob Barrier. Leaders are: Meredith, Mary Ann and Terry
Sifford.
Contact Jillian McCartney at 704-797-4253 or jmccartney@salisburypost.com
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