The Sampson County Civitans are preparing for their annual fall fund raising event…their chicken/BBQ plate sale. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5, in the EastPark Cinema parking lot. Tickets are available from any Civitan member or plates can be picked on site.

The chicken/BBQ plate sale is a major event for the club and is used to raise funds to pay for the many projects the members do for local special needs students and adults.

The Sampson Civitan Club was chartered in May 1974 and currently has a membership of 21. They meet the first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. of each month at Zeng’s Palace. Phillip Wayne Spencer is the current club president.

Throughout the year this club is active serving the citizens of the county. Each January the club donates 10 percent of the club’s balance to the Nathan Gay Endowment Fund which helps Civitan International continue to do the work of serving others throughout the world.

Each February the Civitan sponsor their Valentine Party and dance for the middle and high school students and teachers, TMH teachers, assistants and members of the adult programs at all the schools in the county and city systems. They also provide this activity for the individuals at Sampson Community College, Roseboro and Newton Grove Annex, Skill Creations and the Adult Vocational Programs in the county. There are up to 300 individuals in attendance who are treated to a live DJ dance at the Sampson Agri-Exposition Center with chips and punch followed by a hot lunch supplied by the county nutritional program.

Prior to the Easter Break each year for the county’s schools, the Civitans sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt at Royal Lane Park. Over 200 children, their teachers and assistants from Hargrove, Roseboro, Midway, Union, L.C. Kerr, Salemburg, Butler Avenue, Clement, Hobbton and Plain View Elementary schools and Union Intermediate school, grades K through 5 attend. The county provides the transportation to the event which includes a picnic lunch at the park and a visit from the Easter Bunny. These children are also treated to a choice of two movies at East Park Cinema with soft drink and popcorn.These students can gather 2,000 Easter eggs in two minutes that took club members hours to spread out.

The Civitans sponsor the Civitan Track Meet each year in April providing trophies and awards to the winners.

In December the club sponsors a Christmas party and dance at the Agri-Exposition Center for the same individuals as the Valentine Party. Then they host a second party for the same K-5 students as at Easter and the go to the movies again and then travel to the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church, 900 College St., where they enjoy a visit from Santa and receive a gift selected just for them. The club also donates $250 each to a male and female resident at the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina.

The club members pay all the operational expenses incurred by the club. None of the funds raised to assist their projects are used for its operation. All funds are spent in the county to help meet the needs of the special needs citizens of the county.