Detention Center has 7th annual ‘Adopt a Family for Christmas’

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

The Bamberg County Detention Center has, for the past six years, always called the local Department of Social Services for a family to adopt during the Christmas season. But this year the Detention Officers and the Director, Gary Brown, decided they wanted to do something different.

The adopted family was the family of the late Charles “Tooter” Black. Charles departed this life on March 8, 2008 in a fatal car accident. He had been employed with the Bamberg County Detention Center for 21 years at the time of his death.

Charles was married to Vivian Ryant Black and had one precious daughter, Kimberly.

Charles was a highly dedicated employee, 1st Sgt. over the Center. Everyone that knew Charles knew that he loved his family and his job.

The 7th annual “Adopt a Family” Christmas is the way for them to say “Merry Christmas” to Vivian, Kimberly and Mary Helen Black. The Bamberg County Detention Center

Cheeze and Cracker

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

The Cheeze and Cracker Box on Bell Street was abuzz with activity Monday morning as volunteers busily prepared Christmas food packages for the elderly, needy and disadvantaged people in the county. When the day was over more than 300 Christmas packages were delivered to needy households in the community.

The Cheeze and Cracker Box Director Enid Bishop said that she could not do the program each year without the donations from the community and the services of the volunteers who prepared and delivered the baskets.

Toys for Tots

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

As early as 7 a.m. Saturday morning, though the temperature was as low as the middle 40s, lines formed at the Bamberg Civic Center for parents to select gifts for their families, waning off and on from a few walk-ins at times to extended lines during the day, Santa’s Helper volunteers assisted parents in selecting gifts. Santa’s Helpers distributed Christmas gifts to more than 180 delighted county families.

From Barbie's to bicycles, from ages birth to teens, gifts were arranged along the walls of the Civic Center by age and sex of the children to ease the selection for parents. One parent, with a grin from ear-to-ear, wheeled a midsized, wide-tire bicycle to be loaded in the trunk of her car.

Holiday Brighter

Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Reporter

Christmas morning came early for children in the custody of the Bamberg County Department of Social Services. The agency through its sponsors, churches and business partners around the county presented gifts and prizes to the children in the agency at their second annual Christmas Party in the Richard Carroll Primary School Gym Monday afternoon December 21.

Community Meal

Submitted by Bonnie Edgington

Approximately 100 volunteers came together on Thursday, November 26, as a community effort to provide a Thanksgiving meal to the area residents and to serve 636 plates of food.

Many weeks of preparation and planning by members of area churches, along with others who wanted, joined in this third annual festive activity. Local businesses and residents gave graciously, and Denmark Fire and Rescue Squad members were on hand to provide services if needed.

The night before the meal, all the volunteers met in the high school’s gymnasium for briefing and CPR training. Everett Spellman, the speaker, answered all the volunteer’s questions. This was Spellman’s first year in the effort of feeding the area residents and when asked why he joined the group, he said, “I just want to give something back to the community because of the many times someone had helped me when I was growing up. This is another way I can set a standard for others to hopefully follow.” Spellman was very instrumental in receiving donations for the meal, along with the paper products.

The high school cooks and volunteers cooked 36 turkeys and 18 hams.