Thumbs up to SOPAKCO for hurricane aid

Thumbs up to SOPAKCO, a packaging company with plants based in Mullins and Bennettsville. The company is working to provide meals ready-to-eat, or MREs, to the millions of people left without power and resources in Texas as a result of Hurricane Ike. For years, the company has assisted the government in sending MREs to places devastated by natural disasters or to aid troops stationed overseas. SOPAKCO’s president, Lonnie Thompson, said the company anticipated the destruction left behind by Ike, and developed a readiness plan three weeks ago. SOPAKCO shipped about 1.5 million meals by Monday morning and was set to send another 750,000 by the end of the week. Thompson said his employees have worked long hours to complete the orders for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, they have trained for these types of situations and they’re more than prepared to handle the workload. These employees deserve a huge thank you not only for helping people in need, but for serving as a great example of the Pee Dee’s people to the rest of the nation.

Thumbs up to everyone who is taking the time to register to vote. Steve Love, interim director of the Florence County Elections Commission and Voter Registration, said he’s seen a huge increase in the number of people registering to vote in time for the Nov. 4 general election. He offered two reasons for the spike: it’s a presidential election year, and several Florence County races are generating a great deal of interest. He said he expects voter registration numbers to continue to grow until Oct. 4, which is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in November’s general election, and that Florence County could see the largest voter turnout in its history. Regardless of the reasons, the voter registration increase is welcome news. Now, all these registered voters have to do is go out and vote on Election Day — which, sadly, too few people have done in recent years.

Thumbs up to Gary Strickland, Donny Chandler and all others who rescue homeless and abandoned animals in the Pee Dee. On Sept. 10, Strickland found two kittens — one of whom was swimming for her life while trapped in a storm drain — at West Florence High School, where he is an assistant principal. Chandler and his mother recently found a litter of six puppies abandoned and left to die in a wooded area near their home. After providing these animals with temporary care, they took them to the Florence Area Humane Society animal shelter, where they are awaiting loving, permanent homes. “I just wanted someone to know what people like me and my mother are willing to do to help save animals,” Chandler said. “I hope this helps raise awareness of animal abuse and shows how the Florence Area Humane Society is trying to help animals have a second chance.” There are many animal shelter and rescue groups that do good work in the Pee Dee. Among them are the FAHS, whose shelter is located at 1007 Stockade Drive in Florence and can be reached (843) 669-2921; the Darlington County Humane Society, whose shelter is located on Animal Control Lane in Darlington and can be reached at (843) 398-4402; Second Chance K9 Rescue of the Pee Dee, a no-kill rescue for dogs and puppies, which can be contacted by e-mail at or ; For the Love of Cats Inc. Feline Rescue & Adoption, a nonprofit organization formed to rescue cats and kittens and provide them with good homes, which can be reached at (843) 383-4980; and Home Away From Home Rescue, located at 2405 Lakeview Drive, Florence, which can be reached at (843) 665-1615. Also, animals are up for adoption at the Florence County animal control office on Friendfield Road (S.C. 34) in Effingham, which can be reached at (843) 665-3053. All rely on the community’s support for volunteers and donations.