Category Archives: Well Done

The Virginian-Pilot presented a $1,000 grant to Food for Thought, recently.  The Virginian-Pilot seeks to help strengthen communities by providing grants of varying sizes to nonprofit organizations for projects aimed primarily at human services in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, eastern North Carolina and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

 “We welcome this generosity and thank The Virginian-Pilot for understanding the tremendous community need and the effectiveness of our all volunteer program,” said Loismary Hoehne, president of Food for Thought, designed to provide healthy meals to build strong.  “All of the funds will go to purchase food for the healthy non-perishable breakfasts and lunches provided to more than 590 pre-school, elementary and some secondary youth each weekend.”

“At the same time, the program has grown by about 11 percent since the end of the last school year and is still growing, with a pilot program to feed youth in two middle schools beginning just this semester and an educational component has been added, and with the economic downturn, funds are still needed from churches, community organizations, businesses and individuals. Take the Food for Thought challenge!

This unique non-profit community outreach is run by all volunteers. Members in area churches, civic groups and other organizations participate in many ways, including packing, donating food free or at a reduced cost, and contributing in-kind services such as graphics and printing.  Plus, much needed support is provided by Dare County.

How can you help?  That’s easy.  Learn about the program.  Have someone make a presentation to your group.  Volunteer.  An individual or community group can help receive, pack and distribute food.  Provide in-kind services as well as make a donation to feed a child – $250 for adopting a child each weekend for the school year, to $4,500 to endow a child each year forever at the current annual rate.

A business can provide individual entrees and other foods that are always needed; consider in-kind services such as printing; as well as make a donation to feed the children.

Food for Thought is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that provides healthy non-perishable breakfasts and lunches for more than 590 pre-school, elementary, and secondary students who meet specific criteria in Dare County on weekends during the school year.  The non-profit was one of five in Dare County that received the prestigious North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2009.  Plus, The Dare County Alternative School nominated Food for Thought as its Business Community Partner of the Year 2010-2011 and the non-profit was presented the Dare Education Foundation’s 2011 Excellence In Education Award. For more information about contributing or participating, call Loismary Hoehne, 252-480-0036. Send checks to: Food for Thought, Inc, P.O. Box 1167, Kitty Hawk, NC  27949.

Pictured L-R Helen, Nancy, Tanya, Buddy, Gail @ Essie are busy being creative as they make and sign valentine’s day cards for the folks who receive meals at  home. Together we made 35 cards and enclosed chocolates with each one.

Our Next program will be on March 1^st with a St. Patrick’s day theme. Call Gail Sonnesso of the GEM center @ 480-3354 if you would like to join in the fun.

Ray Matthews - "Portsmouth Island Church" – Best in Show winner

Artist/Members of Dare County Arts Council and residents of Dare County were invited to submit their artwork to the 34^th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show, which is on exhibit at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery through February 24th. Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery is located at 210 E. Driftwood Street in Nags Head.

This year’s opening reception was a success, with over 200 people in attendance and 110 artists participating in the show.

Over $1,500 in cash prizes were awarded this year, including “Best in Show”, “Excellence”, and “Honorable Mention”.  A “People’s Choice” award winner was also selected by public ballot during the opening reception.

Congratulations to the winners:
Best in Show: Ray Matthews – “Portsmouth Island Church”- Photography

Excellence Award #1: Jim Bumpass-  “Hollow Form – Pyrography” Wood
Excellence Award #2: Tom Dean- “Eye of the Sea”-  Acrylic
Excellence Award #3: Eva Morris- “Avalon Shadows”, Photography
Excellence Award #4: Brad Price-“Down in the Wash, Tucson”-Oil

Honorable Mention #1: Katherine Wassink- “River Sky”- Fiber
Honorable Mention #2: Haley Sullivan – “Reliquary Tea Pot”- fine & sterling silver, 18Kgold, recycled gemstone, Brazilian cherry, hemp cord

Honorable Mention #3: – Steven Fowler-“Sleeping Beauties”- Photography

People’s Choice Award: Peggy Saporito – “Crystal Bowl”-Watercolor

Dare County Arts Council extends a heartfelt Thank You to Glenn and Pat Eure, owners of the Ghost Fleet Gallery, who graciously provide the venue for this outstanding show.  Thanks also to the generous sponsors for supporting this year’s show: Ace Hardware, Burgess, Lowman & Lay, PA, Greenleaf Gallery, Hutchins, Allen & Company, Kitty Dough, Martier Real Estate Group, Resort Realty, Saga Construction, and TWs Bait & Tackle.

The 2012 judges were Drusiano Scerbo and Caitlin Cartwright

Gail Hodges (second from right) Senior Vice President at Gateway Bank and Chairman of The Outer Banks Hospital’s Flights of Fancy Gala welcomes OBX Bank as a major sponsor of the black tie dinner dance. Joining her from OBX Bank are Stuart Bell, Executive Vice President, Dee McManus, Vice President / Nags Head Branch Manager and David McGlaughon, President. The theme of this year’s event, which was held on January 21st, wasAntarctica. All net proceeds will be dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases on the Outer Banks.

Volunteers Barbara Donaldson and Jay Dunlap helped facilitate the workhop. Tutors attending the workshop included, front row, left to right: Pat Pulver, Mica White, Melanie Tolson, Amanda Montabon, Louise Casey, Susan Firman, Sylvia Jacocks and John McKeown. Back row, left to right: Kathy Mitchell, JoAnn Adams, Andrea Facci (with Nell Long behind her), John Waldmann, John Fricker, Patty Fabrikant (with Susan Wheeler behind her), Kathy Whittenton and Sandra Schawang.

Eighteen new literacy tutors were trained at the Dare Literacy Council Tutor Training Workshop on Saturday, January 21. Tutors learned about teaching adults to read, how to improve their reading and math skills, to learn English as a Second Language and to prepare for their GED.  Tutors will work with students in Dare County and the Poplar Branch Township area of Currituck County. Grace Lutheran Church in Nags Head provided space for the workshop. The workshop training team included Lynn Blackburn, Nancy Dunlap, Sherry Robinson-Sharpe and Jovita Drake.  For those interested in volunteering as a tutor, another workshop will be held later this year. Visit dareliteracy.org for more information.

Methodist Mens  gathered at the end of November in Rodanthe and what a gathering it was; just over 100 men in attendance, representing about 25 different fellowships. Even in the shadow of all the devastation brought on by Hurricane Irene, we saw the resilient spirit residing in all the men fromHatteras Island. Thanks to all of the men who helped with the meal, the setting up and the fund raising. We were able to send over $500 back into that community for relief work.

If you need more information, please contact Dart 202-6522 dart_neher@hotmail.com or Dave 207-2422 stormont@mindspring.com. See all of you on the 31^st!!