On Saturday, June 22nd, the ladies of the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield hosted their annual Big Night Out Gala at The Farm at 95. The Gatsby Gala for Giving had over 275 participants enjoy a night of fine dining and live entertainment while supporting this year’s beneficiary, the Smithfield Rescue Mission.
“The BNO committee put together our grandest affair yet – a night of glamour and glitz as we traveled back to the Roaring Twenties with our Gatsby Gala for Giving. We were overwhelmed by the support of over 60 local businesses and community members to make our fundraising goal a reality. It was a night full of memories and making a difference for our community,” stated Meredith Fordham and Jessica Davis, Big Night Out Committee Co-Chairs.
In 2017-2018, 12.2% of the people living in Johnston County experienced Food Insecurity. 19.4% of children under 18 are included in that figure. Over 2,000 people over the age of 65 are living below the poverty level. For these families, children, and elderly neighbors of ours, ‘experiencing Food Insecurity’ means not always having daily meals, or not knowing where their next meal will come from. It is for this reason that the Smithfield Rescue Mission was selected to receive the proceeds of the 2019 Big Night Out.
The Smithfield Rescue Mission was established in 1977 and is a proven organization dedicated to helping those in need find answers to breaking the cycle of poverty. The mission’s largest community outreach is Blessing Baskets. When a family or individual in need is referred to them, the mission gets right to work filling boxes, bags, and baskets of food to deliver to them. Smithfield Rescue Mission will use the $15,000 from Big Night Out to purchase food and hire a part-time driver to deliver it throughout the community every month.
Contributed photo
