Sunny Side Up: Sun City residents help out during holidays

Sun City Carolina Lakes is in high gear with benefits and missions galore. Individual clubs and organizations within the greater community host numerous events for charity.
The Volunteers and Helping Hands of Sun City held their regular cell phone and gift card collection in September to benefit Safe Passage. Safe Passage is a women’s shelter in York and Lancaster counties for victims of domestic violence, sexual trauma and child abuse.  
“They collected over $500 in gift cards, with the help of Mums & Poppies Garden Club, the groups collected over 130 used cell phones,” said Trevor Sunderlage, Sun City lifestyle director.
Sun City Cooking Fingers Club’s Back Pack Mission food drives continue to fill backpacks for hungry Indian Land children. Its most recent drive in October collected various food supplies to fill hungry stomachs.
“We raised a total of $501.50 from our bake sale during the Art in the City Festival,” said Paula Giles, Cooking Fingers president.   “Residents and visitors are always very supportive since all of our proceeds go to a great charity – supporting our community.”
Giles also announced that Roger Unbehagen won the chili cook-off for the second year in a row. She said about $100 dollars from the cook-off will also go to the Indian Land Back Pack Mission.
Stitch and Chat President Regina Smith reported a donation of $610.45 to the Lancaster Children’s Home from the sale of handmade hats and scarves at the arts festival. Smith said the remaining hats and scarves will be donated to the women’s shelter.
Barbara Allen, vice president of Stitch and Chat, raised $727 for the USO by raffling off an American flag afghan. “One of the ladies in the Stitch and Chat group saw the afghan in one of my books and said ‘I bet you could make this,’” Allen said. “So I did.”
The Jewelry and Beading Club, which designs and makes assorted items, recently made a donation to the Children’s Attention Home for its silent auction.
The Photography Club opened its first exhibition at the Lake House Gallery with a celebratory gala featuring dazzling photographic works of art. Harpist Nicole McAllister of Waxhaw added elegance to the festive afternoon, while guests were treated to champagne. Photography Club vice president and program chairwoman Melissa Lawson said each club member could display as many as three works. So the gallery was filled with many beautiful pieces.   
“The Veterans Day Invitational Tournament sponsored by SCCL Pickleball Club for the benefit of Hidden Wounds raised some $5,000,” said Sharon MacKenzie, tournament information officer. “We have set the bar high for future tournaments.”
Rose Good said this year’s Thanksgiving food drive was an overwhelming success. Residents spent nearly a month filling boxes with food and collecting gift certificates to give to Indian Land families in need.
“We had 35 families to feed,” Good said. “We collected approximately 80 Harris Teeter bags of food and over $1,200 in gift cards and donations.”
As this column goes to press, the community is setting up and beginning its massive Angel Tree Drive, which will collect an estimated 450 to 500 gifts to help some 40 needy Indian Land families and 30 children in Lancaster Children’s Home enjoy a special holiday season. This annual effort is our gift to the greater Indian Land community.
Happy holidays to all!