The Alive After Five Summer Concert Series is coming to a close this Thursday, and organizers are using the popular event to once again shine the light on a worthy community cause — one that is timely as winter gets closer and closer.
Committee members earlier this year announced a collaboration with three Sampson County nonprofit organizations, including the Salemburg Christian Food Bank, Backpack Buddies and the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Coat Closet, that they hoped could increase exposure for their respective outreach.
“Each organization that was selected serves both adults and children from across Sampson County,” stated Ray Jordan, chairman of the Alive After Five Committee. “These organizations and their members work tirelessly to serve others and every member of the Alive After Five committee is excited and proud to partner with these organizations and support their efforts.”
With the Salemburg Christian Food Bank and Backpack Buddies being beneficiaries of events earlier this year, the Coat Closet will round out this year’s spotlight partnerships. Chamber leaders and volunteers will be on hand at the final Alive After Five concert this Thursday, Oct. 17, accepting and collecting coat and cash donations during the Too Much Sylvia show.
The Chamber Coat Closet is a community outreach program offered by the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce. For the past nine years, the Chamber has worked to provide the gift of warmth to children and adults from across Sampson. This is the 10th year of the effort.
Concert attendees are encouraged to bring new or gently used coats or cash donations to support the ongoing efforts of the Coat Closet initiative locally.Checks may be made payable to the Chamber Coat Closet. Donations are fully tax deductible, with 100 percent of all cash donations used to purchase coats for those in need.
The Chamber is looking specifically for sizes that would fit children, since most request are for younger children who need a coat. The sizes can range from infant sizes to young adults who are 18 years old, but adult coats are accepted as well. Children and adult winter gloves are also being collected.
As part of the Coat Closet outreach, the Chamber partners with Sampson County Schools, Clinton City Schools, the Sampson County Department of Social Services, Sampson County Department of Aging, and the Telemon Headstart Program to identify those in need. Each of these organizations submit requests on behalf of individuals that they have identified as being in need of coats for the harsh winter season ahead.
The focus of the 2019 Chamber Coat Closet in particular is the collection of coats for children, including students at those local schools. Over the past several years, the demand from this particular age group has exceeded the requests of those in adult sizes. Sampson County has received thousands of coats over the past decade, providing those in need of a little warmth over the winter.
According to Allie Strickland, executive director of the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce, if the Chamber is unable to collect all coat requests, they will turn to their sponsors and try to obtain the necessary funds to buy more coats.
“Say if you need 10 coats and we only have five, we will use the money from our sponsors and purchase the other five coats. We hope to fill every request,” Strickland stated.
The coat collections started at the end of September and new and gently used coats will continue to be collected at more than 20 locations across Sampson County through the end of October.
For more additional information about the Alive After Five Concert Series and the partnership with the local nonprofits, visit: aliveafterfiveclintonnc.com. The Too Much Sylvia show is free to the public and will be held from 6-8:45 p.m. at the Clinton City Market on Lisbon Street. Event attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and sunscreen. No coolers or pets are allowed.
For additional about the Coat Closet outreach, contact Allison Strickland, executive director, via email at astrickland@clintonsampsonchamber.org or by calling 910-592-6177.
