By SABRINA BERNDT

Washington Daily News

Local businesses from eastern North Carolina are teaming up to raise money for a family in need.

The Wine Crate is hosting its reoccurring Cratest Block Party on June 22 from 6 to 11 p.m. Half block party and half fundraiser, the wine shop owners are hoping to raise funds for Colby Curlings, a Southside High School senior and football player who suffered critical injuries from a car crash on June 5.

“The block party has been going on for two years, but they got so big and the community has gotten so behind them, we have decided this year to start making them where it can also be a community event to give back to a charity or some project in the community,” said Beth Glisson, co-owner of The Wine Crate, along with Paige Horne.

The family-friendly block party will feature plenty of activities to keep visitors busy, such as a fundraiser cornhole tournament for $5, music by Gary Braddy and The Chuck Phillips Band and Taco Express from Grimesland for late-night snacks. According to the owners, it’s also a great way to meet friends and neighbors.

“We have people all the time that have moved in, they’re like, ‘Yeah, I haven’t had a way to meet people yet,’” Horne said. “So they’ll come and hang out, and they’ll leave with brand new best friends that live two doors down. … So it’s really a great way to get to know people in your community that you may not have met otherwise.”

The Wine Crate is also hosting two silent auctions with donated items from more than 34 businesses from across the state, including 8 Arms Group from Raleigh, The Bank Bistro in Washington and The Sweet Couple Bakery from Greenville. The auction is available online at www.farmvilleauction.com from June 18-22, and it will end Saturday at 2 p.m.

Live bidding will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Wine Crate and winners will coordinate with Horne and Glisson for pickup. All proceeds from the auctions, along with cornhole proceeds, donations and 8% of sales will be donated to Curlings’ family to help with his recovery.

“Our goal is to just find local nonprofits, local charities, situations like this accident that Colby was in, just families in need so we can work together as a community,” Glisson said.

Curlings’ family and friends will have a tent at the block party to take donations and sell items such as ‘Colby Strong’ bracelets.

“It’s a family friendly event,” Glisson said. “Bring your family, bring your friends. Let’s try to make this count for this family.”