Free Shred Event Set For June 20 In Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, N.C. – Johnston County Register of Deeds Craig Olive has announced that his 17th Annual Community Shred Event will take place on Saturday, June 20, from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

The free event will be held in the parking lot of Rose Manor Shopping Center, 1519 W. Market Street in Smithfield, and is open to all Johnston County residents.

The annual shred event is designed to help residents safely dispose of sensitive documents and reduce the risk of identity theft. Since launching the program in 2009, Olive has partnered with local businesses and organizations to provide secure document destruction at no cost to the public.

“Preventing identity theft remains one of my top priorities,” Olive said. “These annual shred events give residents a free and convenient way to safely dispose of personal documents that contain sensitive information. I am grateful to our sponsors for helping us continue this important community service.”

This year’s event is sponsored by Local Government Federal Credit Union, Civic Federal Credit Union, The Johnston County Report, Speedy/Neal, Hinson’s Printing, and InterState Outdoor, Inc.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, warning signs of identity theft may include unfamiliar bank transactions, unauthorized credit card charges, unexpected debt collection calls, missing financial statements, fraudulent tax filings, compromised government benefits, or notifications that personal information was exposed in a data breach.

Residents are encouraged to bring documents containing personal information, including outdated financial records, credit card statements, medical records, and other sensitive paperwork. To ensure prompt service and accommodate as many participants as possible, the event is limited to three boxes or trash bags of documents per vehicle.

Participants are asked to have materials organized and ready for shredding before arriving. Vehicles with improperly prepared materials may be asked to move to the back of the line.

Mr. Olive said the annual event continues to receive strong community support. During the 2025 shred event, more than 10,500 pounds of paper were securely destroyed.

“Our shred events are one of the highlights of the year for me,” Olive said. “I enjoy helping people and look forward to seeing residents at this event each year.”

Anyone with questions about the shred event may contact the Johnston County Register of Deeds Office at 919-989-5160.