General

Pictured from left to right: Bobby Darden, Event Co-Chair, Willie Smith, Karen Plaster, Event Co-Chair Congratulations to Willie Smith as the winner of the Cow Pie Bingo this year! Although we canceled the event due to Tropical Storm IAN, we still continued to sell tickets to raise awareness and funds for the mission. On November 8th, we held a drawing for all the ticket numbers purchased. We sold 245 tickets and the winner received 10% of the PIE.

“It is important to treat others the way we want to be treated, says Jimmy Bender. “You can always count on Jimmy to tell a great story and share a laugh when we are working together at the food pantry,” says Mary Ann LeRay, Executive Director at The Filling Station, Jones County, NC.

Jones County Community Foundation presented a check for $1000 to The Filling Station for the new Teaching Kitchen on campus. These funds received were a result of a grant submitted in July 2022. The teaching kitchen project has been possible by the generous donations made through the annual fundraiser named “Jones County – A Perfect 10” over the past two years. “We are delighted to be able to recognize organizations who are growing and making a difference in Jones County”, says Joan Taylor, President of the Jones County Community Foundation. “Our very first grant to begin the Food Pantry in

Mark your calendar for Thursday, Oct 27th at 5:30 PM. We are honored to host the Annual Candlelight Vigil for our partner, Coastal Women’s Shelter.

Thank you to several Jones County Businesses for supporting Neuse River Bridge Run which in turn supports The Filling Station. We received a donation to be able to purchase 200 back packs and fill it with so many wonderful donations/non perishable snacks and other wonderful goodies. Back to School was held on Sat, Aug 13th at the Jones County Civic Center Each child picked up a brand NEW backpack.

Thank you to International Paper for a beautification grant. Weeds have been pulled, dirt was delivered by AB’s Gravel Driveways, and new flowerbeds have begun with caladium bulbs. The walkway has been expanded to accommodate a new design with red bricks highlighted by hand-made mosaic tiles. The building will be more accessible with the expanded walkway and handicapped parking. Thank you again for the volunteers and funding from International Paper.

Thank you to the office of Coldwell Banker Seacoast Advantage (www.cbnewbern.com) and Jennifer King, top producing agent, for hand-delivering a check to be a “water station sponsor” for the Perfect 10 fundraising event to be held on October 1st. For more information on how to become a sponsor click here.