Around Town: May 18, 2024
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A National Service Day event will be held to honor and recognize senior Kappas, Vietnam War-era veterans and senior citizens with a drive-through luncheon at Sumter Senior Services, 119 S. Sumter St., on Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. or until the food runs out. The luncheon will be hosted by Bishopville/Manning/Shaw AFB Alumni Chapter Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Bert Kenlay is Senior Kappa Affairs chairman. The menu will be hotdogs with chili, chips, sodas and water. COVID-19 guidelines will be followed.
A free community Shred Day will be held at Sumter County Civic Center, 700 W. Liberty St., on Tuesday, May 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Alongside this event will also be a Habitat for Humanity ReStore Donation Drive. A ReStore truck will be on site to collect gently used furniture, home goods and building materials that can help in building homes for families in Sumter.
Wateree Community Actions Inc. Head Start and Early Head Start programs serving low-income, disabled, homeless and foster children birth to 5 years old in Clarendon, Lee, Kershaw and Sumter counties is accepting applications for enrollment in Head Start and Early Head Start for the 2024-25 school year. Persons interested in enrolling their children should contact the Head Start Center serving their area of residence, call the administrative office of Watereee CAA Head Start Program at (803) 774-8520 or Early Head Start at (803) 440-8569 or apply online by clicking on the Head Start icon at www.wcai.org. Wateree Community Actions Inc. Head Start and Early Head Start Programs comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture mandate that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, age, disability or national origin. Transportation services are provided for children enrolled in the Head Start Program. Transportation services are not provided for Early Head Start.
The City of Sumter is accepting applications for the Summer Youth Employment Programs. Students ages 14-15 will work in city government, and students ages 16 through high school, will work in the Co-Op Program for local businesses. Students should see their school guidance counselors for applications and income guidelines. Students must live within the city limits and meet the income requirements set by HUD. Applications will be accepted from April 3 through May 3, 2024. Students may also pick up applications from the Liberty Center, Community Development/Housing, 12 W. Liberty Street, Suite 4, Sumter, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional information, contact Carolet Thomas at (803) 774-1652 or Clarence Gaines at (803) 774-1649.
The City of Sumter will hold its next community cleanup on Saturday, June 15, with everyone welcome to pitch in to beautify the city they live in. The remaining scheduled cleanup days for this year are on Saturdays: June 15, Aug. 17, Oct. 19 and Dec. 14. The city will provide supplies for volunteers and pick up the bags after the events. Fill out a volunteer form at https://tinyurl.com/fmxkavkp.
CareSouth Carolina's upcoming Community Health Fair is coming up to connect communities with a wide range of health care resources and support. The fair will take place on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Bishopville High Memorial Gym, at 121 E. College St., Bishopville. The event will include food, giveaways, health resources, family support services, health and wellness guidance and essential health screenings.
Sumter Senior Services will host a yard sale at 119 S. Sumter St. on Saturday, June 1, from 8 a.m. to noon. Come find your treasure in a little bit of everything from knickknacks, clothing, kitchen utensils, kitchenware, decorations, shoes, brand new items and slightly used items. Please contact Tamyra Walker Johnson or Gail Wilson at (803) 773-5508 if you would like to participate. Space is limited. The fee to rent a space is available for $10 (if you bring your own table) or $20 per table and space rental. All proceeds will benefit Sumter Senior Services Home-Delivered Meals and other senior programs.
The Sumter County Recreation Department offers after-school enrichment programs for ages 5-12 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday for a session fee of $100 per participant at the following locations: Catchall-Shaw Community Center, Cherryvale Community Center, DeLaine Community Center, Eastern Community Center, Ebenezer Community Center, Rembert/Rafting Creek Community Center, Salterstown Community Center. Call (803) 436-2248 for information. Session II will be held until May 22, 2024.
If you have any used bicycles you no longer want, donate them to be fixed up and given to children and Christmas by dropping them off at any Sumter fire station in the city and county all year 'round. Palmetto Optimist Club is accepting the bicycles, in partnership with the Sumter Evening Optimist Club.