The power of giving is a wonderful gift for those who receive and even more so, for those who give, according to organizers for a now annual event that has proven the worth of such a special gift.

To prove that, organizers point to last year’s Shaggin’ for Santa fund-raising which, last year, raised close to $8,000 to help eight Sampson County Department of Aging sites.

Three wheelchair ramps were built, new cabinets were installed, and, most importantly, 12 local children, who are being raised by their grandparents, were sent to camp for a week, a trip that they would otherwise might not have been able to take, all thanks to giving through Shaggin’ for Santa.

For the past six years, organizers and supporters of the event have spread that kindness and the intent is to keep right on doing it as long as people are willing to give.

Robert Stroud, who, along with partner Ray Boyette and members of the Sampson County Jaycees, are the reason for the annual event, slated for Saturday, Nov. 28. at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center.

This year, the event will host two rocking “beach boogie” bands — Highway 17 and The Magnificants; and a catered meal by L&M Catering.

“We wanted to do something a little bit different this year and offer a little more entertainment,” said Stroud about bringing in two bands “Then Lesia and the rest of the girls have got a sponsor that will host a buffet at the end of the night. Everything is the same price as last year.”

Tickets for the event will be on sale at the Exposition Center box office through Nov. 25 during regular business hours. However, there will be tickets sold at the door on the day of the event at a slightly higher charge.

“Last year was good; it wasn’t as good as the previous year,” admitted Stroud. “We had some other events that we had to compete with ... our profits were down, but it was still a good time. The economy also played a part in that, too. There is nothing in competition with us this year, and we are the only entertainment that is at the Civic Center in November. So we are hoping to get a big crowd out here.”

Stroud said he is amazed at the use the Department of Aging gets out of the funding.

“When you think about how it is spread across the county and how many people it helps, it is just incredible,” he said. “These girls do a great job with what they have to work with.”

Those who benefit from the funding say they are very appreciative of the help they receive from the event.

“I manage two programs,” said Lesia Henderson, nutritional program manager and family caregiver support specialist for the Department of Aging, “and I can attest how Shaggin’ for Santa funds have helped my two programs.”

One of those programs, a small part of what Henderson does, is with senior grandparents raising grandchildren. “This year, that funding helped send those 12 children to camp, and if it wasn’t for Shaggin’ for Santa there would be no way that we would ever be able to do that. So what does that mean? That means that those 12 children got the experience of going to camp. As a result of that, four kids were saved — that is a result of the event. Another major thing that Shaggin’ for Santa has done for the Department of Aging, is the SNAP (Senior’s Need Assistance Pronto) program.”

Henderson said that the program is critical for many seniors.

“Because of the proceeds from Shaggin’ for Santa, we have been able to fund an amount of medical and incontinence supplies for needy seniors that may not have the insurance to pay for the supplies, or they may not get their checks in time” to purchase them when needed, she said. “When you see a wife or a husband who come in and need something for their spouse, and they really need it, and you are able to say, ‘here you go’ and hand it to them, that is why it is so important, because we just couldn’t do it without Shaggin’ for Santa.”

Henderson said the funding from the event also goes to help provide more home-delivered healthy meals to seniors in the county.

“It helps us to feed approximately 150 a day,” she said. “It doesn’t pay for all of it, but it really helps out my two programs and really, all of the department’s programs ... These guys come to us and give us a big check, and Lorie Sutton (Sampson County Department of Aging director) takes it and spreads it out to all the sites.”

“The one thing that we were able to do was help build those wheelchair ramps,” said Sutton. “There are so many things that we can’t do with our grant money that we receive or our Medicaid money, because there are so many restrictions on that money. With these funds, we can do things that we can’t do ... we are just excited that they are willing to help us again this year.”

“The money has really helped with my programs as well,” said the Department of Aging’s Sheila King. “We have had patients whose budget would not allow them to have an extra case of diapers or pads or whatever they needed. We were able to get it from that SNAP program. Also, if we have a family that we target that may need a meal during the holidays, we have prepared care baskets for them. These are seniors who wouldn’t have food if it wasn’t for the funding from Shaggin’ for Santa. It really has benefited our program in a lot of different ways, and we are very appreciative of it.”

“We have benefited from the event,” said Cindy Sessoms, of the Adult Day Health Care Center in Clinton. “In the past, we have gotten a big screen television thanks to the funding. It helps those seniors who couldn’t see our smaller television when we show movies. We got cabinets put in our kitchen and utility room; and we got a wheelchair ramp so they can go into an area that has a covered shelter where we can do picnics.”

As in previous years, there will also be tickets sold in a raffle for a 6 1/2 x 12 utility trailer donated by Wilson Manufacturing to be given away that night.

Like last year, there will be only table sales. A table of 10 will be $300 and a table of eight will be $250. Reserved tables are also available.

For more information call the Agri-Exposition Center box office at 910-592-7200 or stop by during regular business hours.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.