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harity begins at home, and that’s all the more true in our small town and in our relatively remote county. There are several non-profit organizations in Oriental and Pamlico County that contribute a lot here. Some do so by literally improving the health of individuals; others do it by boosting the quality of life for the community as a whole.

Now is the time to give back so they can keep giving.

One place to make your mark: donate to the Old Theater and get your name in the brick outside the stage door.

Pamlico Musical Society, Oriental’s History Museum, HOPE Clinic, Hospice, Oriental’s First Responders, The Domestic Violence Task Force, Public Radio East, PAWS and the Old Theater Corporation — can use your support. As the year 2009 — and not incidentally, the tax year — draws to a close, think about what life would be like without the efforts of these groups. We hope you’ll make your tax-deductible donation to them.

You can give in your name, or as a gift to someone else, in their name. A lot of that charitable giving may help ease your tax burden. Whatever your motivation, your financial contribution is much appreciated. Especially in this year when the economy is tightening belts all around. Thanks.

Here are some of the groups that could use your support:

Pamlico Musical Society
Musical appreciation carries a special meaning in Oriental, thanks to the efforts of the Pamlico Musical Society. This all-volunteer group pulls off some great events, bringing performers to the Old Theater who simply would otherwise not come here. (Some of those artists visit the schools, too and share the music with younger ears.) Pamlico Musical Society has kept the ticket prices affordable thanks to a combo of grants and donations. But this year, alas, much of the grant money has dried up, so your contribution is ever more important.

Membership in the PMSociety (sorry, we can’t bring ourselves to using the acronym) has its rewards, too. As a member, you can get early access to buying tickets for shows you especially want to see, and at some levels of giving, invites to the artist receptions. And in the larger scheme of things, the more funds that Pamlico Musical Society receives from all of us, the higher caliber performers they can put on our stage. If you haven’t become a member of the Pamlico Music Society, this is your chance. (Another way to give: becoming a sponsor for a particular show.)

Oriental’s History Museum

In just a few short years, Oriental’s History Museum has been putting together a treasure trove of displays and histories to help visitors and residents alike, understand more of our town’s past. Not only does Oriental’s History Museum provide a link to the past, it also serves as a Visitors Center for tourists. What’s remarkable is that the museum and its volunteers do all this while relying almost entirely on donations from the public. (They recently got $1,000 from the tourism board, but unlike history museums elsewhere, Oriental’s museum doesn’t get any regular funding from our town.) That means it’s up to us — residents and visitors alike — to keep it going. Become a member. Make a donation. Stop by the museum and buy some of the items that local residents have made to help raise funds. (Tom and Ginny Vogt’s sailcloth tote bags & Grace Evan’s Shards of the Neuse jewelry.) Please make checks payable to: Oriental’s History Museum PO Box 103, Oriental, NC 28571.

The Old Theater

Imagine life in Oriental without the Old Theater. How many times a year do you find yourself inside, hearing music, seeing performances, watching a movie? For a little movie theater that it started life as, the place has incredible acoustics and is a jewel in town. The Old Theater Corporation works to keep the venue going so that it’s always there at the ready for an audience. Memberships start at $25 — which is a deal, cos it gets you a discount on many events at the theater. Also, the Old Theater is once again selling bricks; in exchange for your contribution, a brick with your name or message engraved on it is added to the courtyard. Send checks to the Old Theater Corporation, PO Box 521, Oriental, NC 28571

HOPE Clinic
HOPE Clinic provides free medical care to hundreds of Pamlico County residents who have little or no insurance. The energy of a lot of volunteers and contributors — from the doctors and nurse practicioners to the dentists to Bayboro Pharmacy — make HOPE Clinic work. You can also be part of that effort. Checks may be sent to HOPE Clinic Box 728, Bayboro, NC 28515. And now, you can even donate on-line via Pay Pal at the HOPE Clinic website. or contact the HOPE Clinic Message Center at 745-5760.

Public Radio East
Living on the edge of land, in this rather remote corner of NC is something many of us have sought out, but at the same time, we appreciate those links to the world beyond Pamlico County. That’s where Public Radio East comes in (and why you hear it on radios all over town.) Like the internet, PRE gives you ties to the larger world, while at the same time making you feel part of a community.

Public radio does this with one of the world’s oddest business plans: it brings you NPR news, shows such as Prairie Home Companion, and Car Talk and music…. and then asks you to pay what you want to for it. About one in ten listeners contribute. The rest, well… don’t. PRE tells us that per capita, the Oriental area is one of the strongest bases of support for the radio station. But don’t count on your neighbor to pull the weight. If you haven’t given yet this year, it’s not too late. And, y’know, even if you give to a station somewhere else, why not support PRE for making your time in Oriental that much better? Click here for a pledge form from Public Radio East.

Oriental’s First Responders
A handful of your neighbors and friends here in Oriental volunteer to be on call all hours of day and night so that when you dial 911, they can be the first to respond, even before the Pamlico Rescue squad arrives from Bayboro.

This year, the squad is in great need of getting some more volunteers to become First Responders. If you could do that, you will have many people thanking you. You can also help monetarily. The better equipped the responders are, the better equipped you will be to make it through a medical emergency. Make that out to South East Pamlico First Responders and send it to PO Box 429, Oriental, 28571. (To become a First Responder, contact the squad captain, Bill Michne at 249-1175.

Ambulance Fund
The Ambulance Fund is raising money to help defray costs for putting an ambulance in the Oriental Fire Stations, so as to avoid that wait for the ambulance and EMT crew to arrive from Bayboro. The Ambulance Fund is selling bright, highly reflective street number markers — which help the EMTs find your house on an emergency call. Proceeds go to the fund. Checks can be made out to Dottie Gray Ambulance Fund/NCCF 772 Bent Tree Road, Oriental, NC 28571

Hospice of Pamlico County
The Hospice of Pamlico County provides comfort and care for the terminally ill. Your donation can help them do that important work of offering that kind of comfort. Send your check to Hospice of Pamlico County, PO Box 95, Bayboro, NC 28515

The Domestic Violence Task Force of Pamlico County
One of our area’s newest charities, the task force works to help people who are threatened in their own homes. Contributions can help the volunteers help victims of domestic violence. Checks may be sent to Domestic Violence Task Force of Pamlico County, P.O. Box 352 Bayboro, NC 28515

PAWS – Pamlico Animal Welfare Society
PAWS looks out for the dogs and cats that need new homes. Those rescues take an effort and some money. You can help out PAWS by sending your tax-deductible check to PAWS at PO Box 888, Oriental, NC 28571.

Posted Tuesday December 29, 2009 by Melinda Penkava

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