Around Town: Wednesday, July 17, 2024
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Sumter County Recreation Department will be offering 2024-25 After School Programs 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 and Shiloh Community Center. Session I will be held Aug. 5 to Dec. 19, Monday through Friday, and Session II will be held Jan. 6 to May 22, 2025, Monday through Friday. The program lasts from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. each weekday for ages 5 to 12. The cost per session is $100. Contact the Recreation Department at (803) 436-2248 or a community center listed for additional information. Limited space is available. Deadline to register for Session I is July 31, and the deadline to register for Session II is Dec. 13. Register online at www.sumtercountysc.gov or at the Recreation Department, 155 Haynsworth St.
The Sumter Mall will hold the Movin' & Groovin' Back-to-School Event from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at the mall. This event promises a fun-filled day with activities, involvement from local organizations, fantastic deals, and more to help Sumter gear up for the upcoming school year. Admission is free, and attendees will have the chance to register to win a gift basket filled with all the essentials. For more information, please visit the Sumter Mall Facebook Page.
Trukuntry Steppas will hold its first free Back 2 School Bash from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at 2035 N. Kings Highway, Dalzell. School supplies will be provided to each child. Non-perishable food donations will be accepted for the homeless shelter. Music will be provided by DJ Payme. Get ready to line dance. Vendors and food trucks are invited and asked to contact Donna at (803) 236-9863 or Shannie at (803) 972-0436.
Sumter Police Department will host its annual Back to School Bash on Tuesday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Birnie HOPE Center, at 210 S. Purdy St. There will be hotdogs and snow cones, facepainting, balloon art and music by DJ Howie D. Meet and greet representatives from Tandem Health, Healthy Blue of South Carolina, USC Sumter, YMCA, Sumter Fire Department, Sumter Behavioral Health Services, SLED Amber Alert, SAFE Kids Sumter County, Absolute Total Care and Sumter EMS. All children in attendance must be accompanied by a responsible adult who is 18 years of age or older. In the event of rain, the bash will be moved to Thursday, July 25, same place and time.
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 James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Foundation will hold its Back to School Bash for children with Sickle Cell Disease and children of parents with Sickle Cell Disease from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, at South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave. (farmers market area). There will be games, music, dancing, basketball contests and lunch. For additional information, contact Bertha Willis, Sickle Cell counselor, at (803) 840-3042.
Youth Optimist Bike Club is looking for new members and people who want to get involved in the new group. Anyone with questions about the club or looking to get involved can contact project Chair Lakaisha Nicole Byrne at (803) 968-3626 or Lnicole.byrne@gmail.com.
Moms of Sumter Addicts (MOSA) Prayer Group meets the second Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Birnie Hope Center, 210 S. Purdy St., Sumter. This is not a step program or a self-help group but is a group of mothers of addicts spending time in prayer and working to understand and encourage the building of a personal support network. MOSA does not judge, criticize, give advice or discuss other members' situations. For information on the group, contact MOSA.prayer@gmail.com.
The City of Sumter will hold its next community cleanup on Aug. 17 with everyone welcome to pitch in to beautify the city they live in. The remaining scheduled cleanup days for this year are on Saturdays: 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.
The Palmetto Optimist Club's Burger Cookoff event returns to downtown Sumter Sept. 14 to help raise money for families battling childhood cancer, and the club is already looking for people to sign up. Teams interested in participating can email PalmettoOptimistClub@gmail.com for details.
If you have any used bicycles you no longer want, donate them to be fixed up and given to children at 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.