EDITORIAL: Thumbs up to food donation participants

Thumbs up to the participants in the12th Circuit Solicitor’s Office’s Juvenile Arbitration Program who donated food items Monday to the Pee Dee branch of Harvest Hope Food Bank. The Juvenile Arbitration Program is designed to divert first time non-violent/non-status offenders out of the Family Court system and into an informal arbitration setting that is operated by trained, committed volunteers using the Restorative Justice Model. Twelfth Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements III said the first-time juvenile offenders in the program were given the opportunity to buy, then donate nonperishable food items to Harvest Hope. They had to document how they earned the money and then bring in their documentation, food items they purchased themselves, and receipt of purchase to the arbitration office. Clements said the youth in the program purchased and contributed even more than they were required to contribute as a part of their sanctions. “The donated food from the Arbitration Program represents a double benefit to the Pee Dee community, as it provides food for those suffering from economic hardship while empowering young people by showing them the merits of measurable community service,” Harvest Hope CEO Denise Holland said. “We are fortunate and proud to partner with the solicitor’s office’s Juvenile Arbitration Program and encourage other state and civic departments to find ways to coordinate their individual missions with Harvest Hope’s.” The food donated to Harvest Hope Food Bank is distributed to more than 400 member agencies throughout 20 South Carolina counties, including Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Marion, Marlboro and Florence. Its Pee Dee branch is located at 2513 W. Lucas St., at the Pee Dee State Farmer’s Market, in Florence, and can be reached at (843) 661-0826 or via the organization’s Web site, www.harvesthope.org.

Thumbs up to the South Florence High School Youth in Government delegation, which received accolades for its recent participation at the South Carolina Youth in Government Legislative Court & Conference. The team of students was named a Premier Delegation. Trial team participants were Shanda Bartlett, Casey Brattain, Tianna Mill, Lindsey Smith and Madison Conner. The team was named an Outstanding Trial Team among the 22 participating trial teams. Conner also received the Terry Haskins Christian Leadership scholarship, a full scholarship to her choice of attendance at the National Youth in Government Conference next summer or to the 2010 South Carolina Youth In Government conference next year. Additional Youth in Government participants were the trial team of Ciera Gordon, Kayla Jebaily, Deandra Jones, Anna King and Kenny Lee. Students Daniel Larimore and David Randall participated as members of the House of Representatives who co-sponsored a bill relating to mandatory testing for suspicion of public drunkenness. Milton Gamble is the student adviser.

Thumbs up to Lisa Miles of Kingstree, a Williamsburg Tech student who is majoring in health science, practical nursing, for being awarded the Barney and Louise M. Easterling Scholarship. Barney Easterling is Martek’s senior vice president for manufacturing and Louise M. Easterling is a member of the Williamsburg Tech’s Foundation board. Recipients of the Easterling scholarship must maintain a 2.0 grade point average. Preference is given to residents of Williamsburg County and the scholarship may be used for tuition, fees and book charges up to a maximum of $1,000 per year ($400 fall, $400 spring, $200 summer) to be awarded after any state or federal grant awards have been deducted from tuition, fees and books. Gifts made payable to the college’s foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, are tax-deductible.