Make some new friends and learn about the city with Sumter Newcomers' Club

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please note that due to the threat of COVID-19, some events may be cancelled or rescheduled unexpectedly.

Sumter Newcomers' Club is not just for new residents. Get to know your city while making new friends for life. We have monthly coffees with guest speakers where you can get to know us. Play canasta, hand and foot, triple play, bunko, Phase 10 and/or many other games. The club also has a book club you may be interested in. Join us for lunch at a local restaurant once a month. For information, call Shelly Brown at (803) 481-0110.

The Westside Neighborhood Association meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Birnie HOPE Center, 210 S. Purdy St.

The Christian Golfers' Association (CGA) meets at 8 a.m. each Tuesday for Bible study. The group meets at the CGA office in Dillon Park. Refreshments provided and golf after Bible study. Call (803) 773-2171.

The Ballard-Palmer-Bates American Legion Post 202 meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Post, 310 Palmetto St. All veterans are welcome to attend. Call (803) 773-4811.

The General George L. Mabry Jr. Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 817 meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Combat Veteran Building, 529 N. Wise Drive, Sumter, SC 29153. The meetings are held to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans as well as promote patriotism, assist with finding information and resources, and provide service to all veterans and their families. For more information, visit purpleheart817sumtersc.com or call (803) 983-3770.

The South Sumter Resource Center is now accepting applications for the Youth Empowerment Site (YES) program. This program is for youth ages 16-19. Selected participants will complete a paid employability training program. Limited slots available. For more information on the YES program, call Leroy Blanding or Marcy James at (803) 436-2277 / 2276 or stop by 337 Manning Ave., Sumter, SC 29150.

The GOP "Republican" meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at The Restaurant at Second Mill (the Quality Inn restaurant), 2390 Broad St., across from Golden Corral. Meetings are open to anyone age 16 years or older. For more information and questions, call (803) 972-4555.

Marine Corps League Detachment 1202 meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the VFW, 1925 Gion St. All present and former Marines are welcome. Call (803) 972-4555.

American Legion Post 15 meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month (except the month of September when they meet on the second Monday) at 34 S. Artillery Drive. All veterans, past and present, are welcome. Call (803) 968-5115.

The Civil Air Patrol Sumter Composite Squadron meets from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each Tuesday at 2945 Airport Road. There are cadet programs, aerospace education programs and emergency services programs. Call Lt. Col. George Stanley at (803) 847-7640. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com for information.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 12-1 meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Summerton Fire Station, North Cantey Street, Summerton. Membership is open to any U.S. citizen age 17 or older. Previous service in the Coast Guard is not required. The auxiliary's main objective is to promote safe recreational boating on Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie by offering safe boating classes, courtesy vessel checks for required safety equipment and patrolling the lakes offering assistance to anyone in need. The auxiliary also stands ready to assist the USCG with their mission along with search and rescue. We encourage anyone interested in participating in our mission to attend a meeting and learn more about the auxiliary.