Donations sought for school-supply giveaways

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 15, 2014

EAST SPENCER — The town of East Spencer and Payton’s Promise Abuse Prevention Center will host a “Back to School Book Bag Bash” from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 23 at Royal Giants Park, 200 Robinson Road.
Payton’s Promise Child Abuse Prevention Center is a nonprofit headquartered in Charlotte with locations in Salisbury and Greensboro. Payton’s Promise focuses on the prevention and awareness of bullying (including cyber-bullying).
The agency and town hope to give away 150 book bags filled with school supplies.
The town has recruited local churches, fraternities and sororities to help. Volunteers will be at Walmart on South Arlington Street starting at 7 a.m. Saturday to collect donations of school supplies. They will continue on Sunday.
Donations can also be delivered to East Spencer Town Hall, 105 South Long St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Monetary donations can be sent to: Town of East Spencer c/o “Back to School Book Bag Bash” P.O. Box 339 East Spencer, NC 28039.
For more information, contact East Spencer Mayor Barbara Mallett at 704-636-7111 or Eboni Byson at 704-838-6288.
The Rowan Big Band All-Stars will perform a big band and swing concert at St. James Lutheran Church in Rockwell to benefit the “School Tools” school supply drive sponsored by Communities in Schools of Rowan County.
The free concert is Sunday, Aug. 17, at 6:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a donation of school supplies such as notebook paper, pencils, crayons, rulers, wire-bound notebooks, new or gently used children’s backpacks, for Community in Schools’ backpack giveaway program.
Featured vocalists will be Nikki Jones-Bailey, Bill Bucher and Valerie Lloyd. Dr. Ron Turbyfill directs the Rowan Big Band All-Stars.
St. James Lutheran Church is located at 131 W. Main Street in Rockwell.
Community Partners of Rowan is sponsoring a back to school drive Aug. 22 from noon until 4 p.m. in the First Legacy Community Credit Union parking lot, 2146 Statesville Blvd.
There will also be food, games, music, face painting and more.
Current sponsors include: First Legacy Community Credit Union, Cheerwine, Coca-Cola, Sweet Frog, Elite Imagez, Sheer Corrections, Premiere Choice Magazine, Twin Blite, Victory Goals Magazine, Chick-fil-A, Destiny City Church, Spotlight Dance Studio, Catawba College, We Nail’d It Nail Studio, Hairston Funeral Home, Holmes Iron & Metal and Divine Appetit.
Additional contributors, sponsors, donations and collection locations are needed. Contact Community Partners at 704-640-6263.