It’s the time of year when many of this community’s civic and community organizations begin holding fund-raising activities for a variety of extremely good causes.

One of those is the Clinton-Sampson Rotary Club’s Shrimp Fest

Now in its third year, the Shimp Fest, which gets under way Thursday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center, is a fund-raising that Rotary Club members hope will become an annual and much-anticipated event, much like the Shriner’s and Lion’s fish fries, the Civitans Barbecue, the night Rotary’s Oyster Roast and the Kiwanis Pancake Supper. And just as importantly, club members hope it will be one of the most beneficial, in terms of the money raised and how those funds will be used year after year.

Money raised in the past from this worthwhile event has gone to a variety of organizations that the club supports, worthwhile education projects like the Clinton Area Foundation for Education, Sampson County Schools Friends for Education and Sampson Community College, as well as Rotary’s Youth Leadership Conference, the Lake Waccamaw Boys and Girls Home as well as the club’s own Vial of Life program among many other vital community non-profits.

This year will be no different, as the club works to help those within our own community as well as those in other areas of the state, nation and world. Each program meets its own set of needs and betters the quality of life for many.

It’s to the credit of local Rotarians and those who support this fund-raising event that money will be raised for such good causes, and it proves Rotary members live up to their motto of service above self.

You’ll see it in action Thursday evening, as club members — all leaders within the community — serve you and, in doing so, raise funds that will serve hundreds of others.

But the success of this event, as with any fund-raising effort, depends on us — many whose children will benefit from some of the very projects Rotary supports — and how well we turn out for the Shrimp Fest.

So Thursday night, treat yourself, your family or all of them to some of the best shrimp you’ll ever eat, cooked by a local business and served up by those who believe in helping others.

Tell a friend, invite a co-worker, eat, fellowship and enjoy yourselves. It’s a good way to support a local organization, and it’s a great way to help some very worthy causes.