The Mount Tabor Ruritan Club held its annual Donation Day Thursday evening and presented checks to 13 community organizations.
All the money the club handed over came from its fish fries, the selling of apple butter and donations given at the club’s free breakfasts. As Ben Crawford, one of the club’s committee chairmen, noted, “All the money the club raises goes back into the community.”
After a dinner, Crawford presented the first check of the evening.to Karim Khan, director of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library System. The second check was handed to Ken Lyons, Director of Field Service for the Boy Scouts of America Blue Ridge Mountains Council. The third check went to the Virginia Tech Foundation for the Montgomery County 4-H programs. Crawford handed out his final check of the evening to Christine Herman on behalf of the Blue Ridge Science Fair, which this year is being held March 7. Herman is head of Radford University’s chemistry department and the co-chair of the science fair.
Club President Gavin Faulkner did the honors next, turning over a check to Teff Dickhaus on behalf of Boy and Girl Scout Troops 44. The club also supports Cub Scout Pack 44.
Ruritan club member Curtis Cox presented a check to Monena Hall, manager of the Blacksburg Library.
After that, Wendy Baldwin made several presentations on behalf of the club. She handed a check over to Bill King, who represented Leading Lights, an organization that recognizes unsung volunteers. Since its inception, King said, Leading Lights has presented awards to 547 volunteers for their unsung and selfless service to the community and to their neighbors.
Baldwin turned a check over to John Worrell, who was present on behalf of Relay for Life.
Ryan Martin next took a check from Baldwin for the YMCA at Virginia Tech.
Ruritan member Cindy Turner took care of the next presentation, presenting a check to Sharon Dillard. Dillard is the finance officer for the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Turner next handed a check to Mark Smith, assistant chief of the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department.
With no one present to represent their group, Ruritan member Gladys Hughes accepted a check on behalf of the Brush Mountain Coal Miners Association. She said the money would be used to help with maintenance and with insurance.
Ruritan Club member Mary Lou Summers accepted a check as a member of one of the volunteer groups of the veterans cemetery in Dublin.
Hughes presented the final check of the evening to Hunters for the Hungry, a group of hunters who ensure the deer they kill goes to those who need the food.
