Riverfest Opportunities

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
~Margaret Mead

"Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't even have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve... You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love..."
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


This is going to be a busy week! I will be busy making last minute preparations for Riverfest, which will be September 18th and 19th on Washington Street in Eden, NC. There will be something for everyone: artisans, crafts, vendors, non-profits, a kid-zone, and much, much more! It’s going to be a weekend of fun for the entire family.
Come out and see me Friday evening from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. or anytime on Saturday. I’ll be under the tent for the Rockingham County Humane Society. We will be raising awareness about RCHS, which is the only no-kill animal shelter in Rockingham County. Established in 1975, we are a 501c (3) organization which means we are non-profit and non-government funded. All support comes from the volunteers and members of the community who generously contribute their time, money, and talents to help us save animals. Our mission is to help as many animals as possible find safe, nurturing, and loving homes. We also encourage people to spay and neuter their pets and offer low-cost monthly clinics. Find us on Petfinder at www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC524.html

We are excited about the upcoming festivities at Riverfest! We will be selling raffle tickets for our annual raffle, t-shirts, doggie bandanas, hand-painted magnets, and guardian angel pins. One of our volunteers will be dressed in a huge dog costume to greet the kids and give away coloring books and pencils. Many people bring their dogs to Riverfest, so make sure Fido is on a leash and bring him by our tent for some cool refreshment at our “Pet Water Station.” All proceeds from Riverfest will go directly towards the care of abandoned and neglected animals in our community and the operation of the RCHS.

At 8:30 on Saturday morning, Riverfest will kick off the day with a 5K to benefit the Rockingham County Literacy Project. The RCLP is dedicated to teaching adults how to read, improve their reading skills, and help people learn to speak English. Elizabeth Neterer described the importance of these skills when she said, "Reading is a means whereby we may learn not only to understand ourselves and the world around us but whereby we may find our place in the world." We live in an area where many people had to drop out of school at an early age in order to work in a nearby mill and support their families, so there are a surprising number of adults in our area who are illiterate. Many others are only functionally literate, meaning they can read just enough to get by in the world, but are unable to enjoy reading the way it should be enjoyed. We also live in an area where the Hispanic and immigrant population is increasing at a fast rate, and people need to be able to speak and read English in order to find jobs and improve their quality of life. The RCLP offers one-on-one training in basic skills for reading, writing, speaking English, and math. Students of all ages are matched with a tutor who will help the student reach his or her needs and literacy goals. If you are interested in running in the 5K or becoming a tutor for RCLP, check out their website at www.rcliteracyproject.org

I am so excited to be a part of this year’s Riverfest. I look forward to seeing many faces at the tent for the Humane Society. If you are interested in ways you can help or volunteer, come by and check us out. By participating in the 5K race I will be able to use running to impact the lives of people right here in my hometown! The Rockingham County Humane Society and the Rockingham County Literacy Project are just two of the non-profit organizations that will be present this weekend. As I said, there will be something for everyone, so come out and get some cotton candy, get involved, and most importantly…make a difference!