The Caroline County Department of Social Services (DSS) provided approximately 100 elderly and disabled clients Thanksgiving meals last November.
But with no funding available for the Thanksgiving program this year, DSS employees are finding creative ways to keep the tradition going.
Teiona Wilson, an employee specializing in senior benefits at the Caroline DSS, is organizing a 5-on-5 basketball tournament to raise money for the Thanksgiving program.
The event will be held Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Caroline Community Services Center gymnasium, located at 17202 Richmond Turnpike in Milford. The entry fee is $100 per team. There will also be an opportunity to make monetary or gift card donations. Concessions will benefit the program, as well.
Wilson’s goal is to raise at least $5,000.
“I want it to be known that the elderly sometimes are overlooked or forgotten, and it just shouldn’t be that way,” Wilson said. “So, this is a time where our community can come together to help the elderly and disabled, especially during the holidays.”
Press the Issue
For more information on the Thanksgiving program, to register a team or to donate, call Wilson at 804/633-5071, ext. 2153.
So far, six teams have registered for the basketball event. Wilson is hoping for four more. Despite the funding concerns, applications for the meals are coming in, and Wilson anticipates a significant rise in participants from a year ago.
Wilson said if fundraising goals are not met by the end of this month, DSS will increase outreach efforts to churches and other civic organizations willing to help.
“If they want to give us gift cards to give to clients, that’s fine also,” Wilson said. “They don’t have to give us monetary donations. If they want to give us turkeys, can goods, whatever they would like to supply towards the clients that we are able to accept, we’re willing to accept that.”
In addition to the full-court basketball action next Saturday, there will be a live national anthem performance, and the Caroline Middle School cheerleaders will provide halftime entertainment.
