My New Blog

As some of you may know, I make a concerted effort throughout the year to donate items and time to various charitable organizations.  Some of my friends and clients have been calling me this month wanting to know if I had any suggestions about donation and volunteer oppurtunities in the Jacksonville area, so I decided to compile some information and share it with anyone who's interested in spreading a little extra Christmas Cheer.

Here are a few organizations that could use your help:

• Onslow Christmas Cheer - Christmas Cheer is a program ran by Onslow Community Ministries.  One way to help Christmas Cheer is to sponsor a needy family or elderly person.  A sponsor coordinator can help to match a potential sponsor with an available case.  If you wish to consider sponsorship, call the US Cellular Sponsor Line at 910-340-1567.  Christmas Cheer is also looking for volunteers to help distribute gifts and food to the families that aren't sponsored this year.  For more information about volunteering with Christmas Cheer, call 910-938-HELP.  For more information online visit the Onslow Community Ministries Website or view the article in the Jacksonville Daily News.
• Soup Kitchen - This program is also ran by Onslow Community Ministries.  They are looking for long term volunteers to assist with preparing 500 lunches and then going out on the soup truck to deliver the lunches.  They are taking volunteers Monday thru Friday from 8am-Noon.  For more information, contact Remy Stitt at 910-347-3227, or visit the Onslow Community Ministries Website.
• Thrift Store Volunteer - The Thrift Store, Finders Keepers, is looking for volunteers to clean/organize the store, sort donations, put merchandise out etc.  Proceeds from the Thrift Store go to benefit the Onslow County Women's Center.  Volunteer days are Tuesday thru Sunday, in the morning or afternoon.  They are also looking for donations.  Donated used items will go to the Thrift Store to be sold, and new items may go to the Women's Shelter.  They are actively seeking donations of robes, socks, slippers, personal care products, and more.  For more information call 910-347-4000 or visit the Onslow Women's Center Website.

    These are just a few of your volunteering options!  If you like animals, you can volunteer at Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary, or if you like construction and housing, you can volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.  For more information about volunteering in Jacksonville, I recommend visiting www.1-800-Volunteer.org.  They connect eager volunteers with various nonprofit organizations that are looking for help. 

If you want to make a quick donation, don't forget about Toys for Tots and The Salvation Army Angel Tree, and the Homeless Shelter is always accepting donations of food and personal hygiene items. 

I hope that you found this helpful and I hope that you can find a way to give this year!  Maybe I'll see you there!

You heard me right!  For $100 you can purchase a ticket that will enter you into a raffle to win a home that has recently been appraised for $835,000!

As some of you may know, I enjoy participating in various fundraisers and contributing to different non-profit organizations.  One that I am especially fond of is AnyMarine.com, a part of AnySoldier, Inc.  AnySoldier, Inc. is a fantastic company that tries to connect our service members overseas with people that would like to send care packages, but don't know where or who to send them to.  It is a non-profit organization with great beginnings.  The creators of this amazing group conceived the idea when their son was sent to Iraq.  They created AnySoldier.com, then added AnyAirman.com, AnyMarine.com, AnySailor.com, and AnyCoastGuardsman.com.  Each site specifically pertains to their designated branch of the Armed Forces.

Now about the raffle...

A nice couple from Prince Frederick, MD has decided to raffle off their beautiful 5 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom home on over 7 acres, and donate the net proceeds from the sale of their home to AnySoldier, Inc.  Whether you are from Jacksonville NC, Onslow County, or any other state... 

...Who wouldn't want this home?

So, click here for more information and your chance to win!

Or for other ways to help, go to www.AnyMarine.com!

We all know how very important it is to vote, with the Presidential Election being this year.  However, for Onslow County residents, there is another very important issue on the ballot this year... the Onslow County Sales & Use Tax. 

What is the Onslow County Sales & Use Tax? 

The Onslow County Sales & Use Tax is a 1/4 cent sales tax that will be used as a tool for generating revenue to meet the growing financial needs of Onslow County. 

Some important things to note about the property tax:

• If the sales tax is not increased, there will almost definitely be an increase in property taxes.
• The sales tax increase is 1/4 cent and cannot be used on groceries, gasoline, or the purchase of automobiles.
• If the sales tax increase is defeated, property taxes may go up 4 cents per hundred dollars.  Property tax increases only affect homeowners.  Let's get a broad based tax that will affect everyone.
• When the 1/4 cent sales tax increase passes, you will never have to worry about the Transfer Tax ever appearing on the ballot.  The rule is one or the other.  

For more information, visit the Onslow County Website.  

Additional Educations Resources:

Everyone Pays Factsheet

Items Excluded from Sales & Use Tax Factsheet

Payment Comparison Factsheet

Revenue Comparison Factsheet

This year, I've taken the liberty of compiling a few Jacksonville NC area Halloween attractions, so hopefully everyone can find something that they like.  But if anyone knows of any others that I have missed, please feel free to contribute.   

Mike's Tree Farm Haunted Hay Ride

The Hayrides, in Richlands, will be October 23rd, 24th, and 25th beginning at 7pm.  There will also be a children's carnival the 24th and 25th, with a costume contest on the 25th at 8pm.  All proceeds go to the Back Swamp VFD & Fountaintown VFD.  For more information call Mike's Farm at  910-324-3422 or visit them online at www.MikesFarm.com.  

Nightmare Factory Haunted House & Blackout Maze

The Nightmare Factory, in Havelock, opened on September 19th 2008 and will remain open until November 2nd.  The Factory offers a Haunted House and a Blackout Maze.  Admission to the Haunted House is $10, admission to the Blackout Maze is $7, or you can get a combo ticket for $15.  They open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7pm.  For more information call them at 252-444-FEAR or visit them online at www.NightmareFactoryNC.com  

Marston Pavilion Haunted Forest

The Haunted Forest will be held at Marston pavilion on Camp Lejeune.  It will be open from October 28th to November 1st from 7pm to 9:30pm.  The Haunted Forest offers two paths, the Trail of Terror and the Purgatory Path.  Entrance fee is $3 per trail, or $5 for both trails.   For more information call 910-451-2785 or visit online at http://www.mccslejeune.com/hauntedforest/index.html.