EDITOR’S NOTE: Please note that due to the threat of COVID-19, some of the following events may be canceled or postponed unexpectedly.
The Council of Garden Clubs of Sumter Inc. invites home gardeners from Sumter, Lee, Clarendon and Kershaw counties to participate in the Sumter American Legion Fair Fall Flower Show scheduled for October 18-23. Exhibitors can display their garden foliage, flowers and fruiting branches for the chance to win one or more prizes. Horticulture must be fresh, cared for and grown by or in exhibitor’s possession for a minimum of 90 days. For registration details, visit the Sumter American Legion Fair website at http://www.sumterfair.comselect the entry, then scroll down to the Department X-Flower 2022 show. You can also call the American Legion office at (803) 775-5200.
Marine Corps League Detachment 1202 meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at VFW, 1925 Gion St. All Marines present and past are welcome. Dial (803) 972-4555.
American Legion Post 15 meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month (except September when they meet on the second Monday) at 34 S. Artillery Drive. All veterans, past and present, are welcome. Dial (803) 968-5115.
The Sumter County Recreation Department offers after-school programs 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for $5 per week per participant at the following locations: Catchall-Shaw Community Center, Cherryvale Community Center, DeLaine Community Center, Eastern Community Center, Ebenezer Community Center, Rembert/Rafting Creek Community Center, Salterstown Center Shiloh Community and Community Center. Call (803) 436-2248 for more information.
The Sumter Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday at 2945 Airport Road. There are cadet programs, aerospace education programs, and emergency services programs. Call Lt. Col. George Stanley at (803) 847-7640. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 12-1 meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Summerton Fire Station, North Cantey Street, Summerton. Membership is open to any US citizen 17 years of age or older. Prior Coast Guard service is not required. The primary purpose of the Auxiliary is to promote safe boating on Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie by providing safe boating courses, courtesy vessel checks for required safety equipment and patrols on lakes offering help to anyone in need. The Auxiliary is also ready to assist the USCG in its search and rescue mission. We encourage anyone interested in participating in our mission to attend a meeting and learn more about the auxiliary.
The Temple Sinai Jewish History Center is looking for docents (tour guides). Guides must be 18 years or older and willing to undergo training before starting. This is a voluntary position and you will be asked to commit at least a few hours per month (Thursday or Friday afternoon or Saturday morning). The museum will work with students who wish to arrange class credit through their college. The Center covers South Carolina and Sumter’s Jewish history, the Holocaust, and Sumter’s ties to the Holocaust. Guides should be friendly and comfortable with children and adults. Contact Diana Roof at (803) 468-8630 or droof@sumtercountymuseum.org or Annie Rivers at (803) 775-0908 or arivers@sumtercountymuseum.org.
Lac Marion Poste VFW 11078, Summerton, meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 1 Duke St., Summerton, behind First Citizens Bank. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m. All VFW members are encouraged to attend. Call Carl A. Farley at (803) 460-8910.
The Bishopville/Manning/Shaw Air Force Base Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. meets at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month at the South Sumter Combat Veterans Group Headquarters Building, 529 N. Wise Drive. Call James Munford at (803) 795-2903 or Kenneth Benjamin at (803) 773-8514.
Connected Warriors Inc. offers evidence-based, trauma-aware yoga therapy for military members, veterans, and their families toll-free for participants at 5 p.m. Wednesdays at Shaw Air Force Base for those with base access and 5 p.m. Fridays at Southern Bliss Yoga, 600 Bultman Drive, Number 4. Call Melissa at (803) 468-1658 , email southernblissyoga@yahoo.com or visit www.connectedwarriors.org for details.
Sumter’s Purple Heart Chapter sponsors a project to have all Purple Heart Medal recipients inducted into the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor located in New York City. An application for registration must be completed by the medal recipient or next of kin if the veteran is deceased. Proof of the award of the medal is required and, if possible, a photograph of the recipient. Call Willie Washington at (720) 203-2112 for details and assistance.
The Institute for Single Parents meets 5:45-6:45 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Birnie HOPE Center. Meetings are open to teenage single parents, custodial and non-custodial single parents. You are welcome to bring your children as the Institute for Single Parents is for the whole family. Contact Dr. L. Quaneck Walkes at (803) 223-9408 or lqwalkes@sctechthisout.com.
The Sumter Combat Veterans Group holds weekly peer meetings at 11 a.m. every Tuesday at the South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Drive. These meetings are designed for veterans to help other veterans with PTSD, coping skills, claims, benefits, therapy counseling sponsored by the Columbia VET Center at 11 a.m. every Tuesday and individual advice from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday. Open to all veterans in the region. Call James Thomas at (803) 765-9944.
Having cancer is difficult. Finding help shouldn’t be. Free help for cancer patients from the American Cancer Society. Transportation to treatment, help with side effects related to the appearance of treatment, nutritional help, one-on-one support for breast cancer, free accommodation away from home during treatment, help finding clinical trials, someone someone to talk to – all for free. Call (800) 227-2345.
Ebenezer Community Meetings (COPS) take place every third Tuesday from 7-8pm at the Ebenezer Community Centre, 4580 Queen Chapel Road, Dalzell.
Summer Region Toastmasters meets at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in the Sumter Mall Community Hall, 1057 Broad St. The group helps develop speaking and leadership skills. Call Douglas Wilson at (803) 778-0197 or Rebecca Gonzalez at (803) 565-9271.
