BY DEBBIE PAGE
The Troutman Ruritan Club has a busy holiday season ahead, raising funds through charity bingo nights, adopting five families for Christmas, participating in the Troutman Christmas Parade, and planning for next year’s events.
Club members are currently busy getting cookie and hot cocoa preparations complete for the hundreds expected at Thursday’s Town of Troutman’s Christmas Tree Lighting at 6 p.m. at ESC Park. The club began providing the treats at last year’s tree lighting ceremony
So far this fall, the Ruritans have helped 30 families at Troutman Elementary School with Thanksgiving dinners, including providing food and gift certificates for turkeys for 30 families to help make Thanksgiving less stressful.
The club thanked North Fork Business Park, Butch Bouwens, Tony D’Alasandro, and Peter Casatelli for their donation to help make the outreach possible.
The club also had a September spaghetti dinner fundraiser and donated the proceeds to Troutman Fire and Rescue. The club also passed out candy to thousands of children at the Trails and Treats event in October.
Secretary April Hudson said that keeping a small-town feel is important even though Troutman will soon be bursting with new homes and residents.
“The best way to keep our town the friendly place we all know and love is by getting involved with our neighbors. Troutman Ruritan Club is looking for new members to get involved,” she said.
“Our club is part of a national organization, and our purpose is to support urban and rural communities in times of stress and need through fellowship, goodwill and community service. All efforts and funds raised stay in the town of Troutman.”
Troutman Ruritan Club is open to members from age 1 to 101 and meets once a month to plan its community efforts. Participants from outside of Troutman town limits are also welcome to join.
The club is also now hosting charity bingo nights at the Troutman Event Center (near Kats Patch) every Friday through December 29l. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the first special game at 5:30 p.m. The program begins at 7 p.m.
Proceeds will help fund their efforts to provide a merry Christmas for five local families.
The club plans to continue the bingo nights in 2024 to fund future projects.
GET INVOLVED
To do all of these projects, the Ruritans need more members and supporters. The next meeting will be Thursday, December 7, at Your Coffee Place in Troutman at 7 p.m.
The club welcomes younger people, families, retirees, businesses, and others in the area to join the organization to promote community goodwill, fellowship, and service to others.
The group meets the first Thursday of every month. Whole families can join to meet their neighbors and serve others in the community.
Officers are Lisa Crates, president; Sheena Shaw, vice president; April Hudson, secretary; and Debbie Altomare, treasurer.
Shaw got involved to lead by example for her children and get them involved so she can pass the torch of community service onto the next generation.
“Ruritan gives back to the local community only, and we all get to vote on the fundraisers or events we want to throw and who we want to benefit. Everybody has a say, and we can make the club what we want to make,” said Shaw.
Crates said that the club is also creating partnerships with school groups at South Iredell High and Troutman Middle as well to promote community involvement.
Joining fees are $68 for adults and $15 for children. The group hosts about 10 events a year to support the Troutman community, and club members choose as a club those who they want to support.
ABOUT RURITAN
Ruritan National has nearly 25,000 members throughout the United States that serve more than 900 communities. Since the organization’s inception in 1928 in Holland, Va., Ruritan Clubs have spread fellowship, goodwill, and community service throughout America in urban areas, small towns and rural communities.