OPINION: Thumbs up to Project Turn Around for getting $600 S.C. grant

Thumbs up to Project Turn Around for recently being awarded a $600 South Carolina Arts Commission grant. The funds will be used to enhance the 4th Circuit Solicitor’s Pilot Youth Arts Program with an Equine Assisted Therapy pilot program for Chesterfield and Marlboro counties. Youth Arts are an enhancement to intervention, treatment and prevention programs for at-risk youth. “In these hard economic times, we would not be able to continue the program and use professional artists to expose our at-risk youth to the arts without assistance,” Youth Arts Director Gale Elmore said. “It is our hope to bring these programs into all four counties of the Fourth Circuit.” Students receive hands-on experience with professional artists guiding them in visual art, dance, acting, videography and writing. Academic problems in mathematics and exercises in anger management and peer conflict also are integrated into the program. Students receive awards for outstanding work. Fourth Circuit Solicitor Will Rogers said he believes in prevention programs like Youth Arts as a deterrent to risky behavior. “Our youth are worth the effort to create new and innovative programs to ensure they grow up to be productive citizens,” he said. “All young people make wrong choices at some point and we must provide guidance to correct and deter them from making the wrong decision again.”

Bonnie Shaw, an enrichment teacher at Southside Middle School in Florence, gives a thumbs up to the school’s students and staff who recently held a “CAN do it” contest to see which class could collect the most nonperishable items for Harvest Hope Food Bank. The school’s goal was to collect enough food items to fill up a pickup truck. A total of 1,805 items were collected, filling up both a pickup truck and the trunk of a car. Shaw said the project was one of many community service projects the school has to help students experience school-community connections. The “CAN do it” contest was sponsored by the school’s Junior Teen Institute Club.

Florence County Sheriff’s Lt. Wayne Howard gives a thumbs up to all of the sponsors who helped make the sheriff’s office’s annual hunts “the success they are over the past 12 years: Furman Brodie of Ingram Lumber Co., S.C. Telco, Pinewood Hunting Club, S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Safari Club International, Bass Pro Shops, Leupold Optics and Bill Askins. These individuals and organizations have helped to introduce more than 450 youth to hunt not only deer but wild hogs and ducks throughout six counties in South Carolina. All money raised during these hunts help sponsor Camp Pee Dee Pride, now in its 14th year at Francis Marion University.” The free camp for children between the ages of 8 and 12 and has served more than 3,000 Pee Dee children.

Chasity T. Humphries, donor recruiter representative for the American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region, gives thumbs up to Nucor Steel in Darlington for teaming up with the American Red Cross to help the community. The company conducted a blood drive Oct. 30 and gave away
T-shirts to donors. “With healthy blood donors decreasing with the increase in the flu, Nucor Steel is trying to make a difference in the Pee Dee,” she said. “Let the community know that Nucor Steel is appreciated for their efforts in saving lives!” There is no substitute for blood; the only source is from volunteer donors. In the South Carolina Blood Services Region, the Red Cross must collect 500 units of blood each weekday to meet the needs of hospital patients. Eligible blood donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. For details or to schedule an appointment to donate, call (800) GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or visit www.redcrossblood.org.