By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
A rocking good time is on tap at The Blind Center during its upcoming Rock-A-Thon fundraiser.
The event will be held April 17 at the center, located on the corner of Third and Harvey streets in Washington.
Center clients have been collecting sponsorship donations for weeks in anticipation of the event, according to assistant director Deborah Waters. All the money raised will support the center in its mission to provide services for the area’s blind and visually impaired population.
Although this year marks the seventh-annual Rock-A-Thon, it’s Waters’ first in her new role as a center employee.
“I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “It’s just a very worthy cause.”
Waters said the clients are excited about the fundraiser, too. All are actively involved, either by manning rocking chairs the day of the event or creating crafts to sell in the center’s gift shop.
The fun begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m., Waters said. Along with the rocking, area crafters will display and sell their wares, including jewelry, wood turnings, stained glass, quilts, crocheted and knitted items, aprons and painted boat paddles.
The Blind Center Gift Shoppe will be open, too. The inventory, all crafted by center clients and volunteers, features handmade baskets, stuffed pillows, holiday decorations, door stops and the ever-popular sock monkeys.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Roger and Diana Cates of Flipping for a Reason will serve up barbecued-chicken plates complete with cole slaw, stewed potatoes, hush puppies and iced tea. Tickets are available in advance for $7 each, or they may be purchased the day of the event. Baked goods also will be available.
Live musical entertainment will be provided throughout the day by Larry Loving, Robin Potts and J.D. Edwards and W.O. Grissom with Crossroads Bluegrass Gospel, Waters said.
The traditional Blind Center raffle will be conduced, with tickets available for $1 each or six for $5. First prize is a handmade, quilted wall hanging depicting North Carolina lighthouses. Second prize is a handwoven foot stool, and third prize is a woven waste-paper basket, both made at the center.
Business support from Washington and surrounding areas is being solicited, Water said.
“Any business that donates $100 or more will be put on our honor roll hanging in the dining room during the event,” she said.
Donations in support of the center may be mailed to P.O. Box 491, Washington, N.C. 27889.
For more information about The Blind Center, its programs and fundraisers, call 252-946-6208.