The Hiram Elementary School 5th grade Beta Club members are definitely feeling the spirit of giving this holiday season. They decided they wanted to help a local organization, Helping Hands, with items they may need to help those in need.

Hardy Family Automotive Group graciously matched Helping Hands of Paulding's donations (up to $10,000) for the entire month of November. This essentially gave Helping Hands more bang for their fundraising buck by receiving two donations instead of one. The marketing staff also assisted the charitable organization by creating a custom page on the Hardy Automotive website specifically for them. Thanks to this, Helping Hands was able to generate more interest and awareness for this fundraising opportunity.

Mrs. Burks was excited to address Rotary club members once again. She thanked everyone for the continued support.  Mrs. Burks highlighted the growth that Helping Hands has experienced since its beginnings in 1987. Started by five churches approximately 31 years ago, Helping Hands has been able to provide 6,000 families with basic food needs (as of October 2018) this year. By the end of this year Helping Hands of Paulding County will have distributed over 1 million pounds of food to local residents.

The American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 111 in Dallas, recently presented Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge with a $4,000.00 check to support the 2018 Cops for Kids Shopping Event to be held this Saturday, December 15th. The event, now in its 20th year.

American Legion Post 111 and members of the Paulding County Veterans Memorial Committee held a Veterans Day Service downtown Dallas on Sunday, November 11th at 11:00 AM. The 25th annual service was held in honor of all Veterans, living and deceased, especially those who died while serving our country, with a special remembrance for the eighty-two Paulding County Veterans who perished in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and in the Middle East.

A Paulding Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 30th for LGE Community Credit Union. Over the years, LGE’s relationship with Paulding has only grown (the Credit Union’s very own Chris Carter even serves on the City of Dallas Council).

Chris Carter, City of Dallas Council member, oversees all LGE Community Credit Union branches, including the newly opened Dallas location, and was glad to sponsor the Flight 242 Memorial as part of this year’s Dallas Concert Series. Flight 242 board members thank you very much for your generous sponsorship of $10,000 for the Memorial effort. LGE Community Credit Union held their grand opening on October 30th at the previous Georgia Heritage Bank location.

The Paulding County Rotary Club welcomed Robbie Finley of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for Paulding County to speak with our Club members. FCA Paulding is growing and is excited to be meeting with coaches and athletes across the county; in all five high schools, all nine middle schools, and now in four elementary schools.

Here in Paulding County, on the outskirts of the big city, we like to think that 'Poverty' and 'Homelessness' are not present here. However, if you drive through the City of Dallas on a Monday or Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. you will see the face of Paulding's homeless. Stephanie Wall Womack, of Taste and See Ministries has answered the call of God's army.

The Paulding County FFA was named the national winner of the 2018 National FFA Convention Hall of States competition. The Paulding County chapter, whose advisors are Mrs. Maggie Richards and Mr. Tom Liles, along with FFA members, Chloe Moody, Layne Ammons, Hunter Ammons, and Kaylee Patterson constructed a display that featured the top ten agricultural commodities in the state of Georgia.