Chinquapin Neighbors Connecting 12.8.2022

November and December found Chinquapin neighbors hiking at Thanksgiving, bell ringing for the Salvation Army, and providing logistical help for the Cashiers Christmas Parade held December 3. Photos are below.

Where else might a Chinquapin neighbor connect?

There are many organizations in the area to be involved with. This list is only a few places to consider supporting on an occasional or ongoing basis. Be a volunteer dog walker with the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. Keep the roadsides clean picking up trash several times a year. Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry helps increase food security. The Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau or Big Brothers Big Sisters support youth. Friends of Panthertown National Forest supports the forest right next door to Chinquapin. Read to students at Blue Ridge School, a Pre-K-12th grade school. Vision Cashiers fosters and encourages prudent, sustainable growth in the area. The Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley just held its inaugural Cashiers Valley Road Rally in November to support education on the Plateau. The local weekly newspaper, Crossroads Chronicle, often reports on these groups' activities and has an online subscription option. There are MANY, MANY more organizations; reach out to the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce for a listing or ask your neighbors here.

Cara McLauchlan and Katie Nicholson organized a neighborhood hike on Thanksgiving Day to either work off what friends and neighbors had already eaten or prepare their stomachs for what they were going to eat that evening.

L-R Front row, Cooper. Middle row, Val Talley, Kristi Benner, Kim Hoefer, Annie Nielsen, Patti Shuler, Cara McLauchlan. Back row, Maria Dean, Ashley Dobbins, Riva Smith, Chuck Self, Katie Nicholson, Russ McLauchlan

Seasonal volunteer opportunities included ringing the bell for the Salvation Army at Ingles through the Rotary Club and support for the Cashiers Christmas Parade. The parade was December 3, and you can view the live stream the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce provided on its website. https://www.cashiersareachamber.com/

Ellen and Mike Tucker and Wendy and Terry Renoux volunteered with the parade; Wendy and Terry supported the Rotary Club and the Salvation Army ringing the bell at Ingles.