CRESTVIEW — For single mom Ceciley Austin and her 3-year-old son, Ryan Randolph, Sharing and Caring makes a difference.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue food bank's volunteers have tided her family over tough times for three generations, and help their neighbors as well, Austin said.

“I grew up and we didn’t always have a lot,” she said. “They helped my mama, and now they help me and my son. I know quite a few families who use Sharing and Caring.”

The food bank fed more people in September than ever before, helping 1,166 residents, including 41 new clients, according to Sharing and Caring President Robin Marston.

“And the numbers have gone way up since then,” she said, adding the closure of The Raymond Williams Missions Center on Highway 90 has driven many of its clients to Sharing and Caring.

Coupled with the increase in clients are the combined demands of upcoming holidays and colder weather, which draws homeless people to Northwest Florida.

“We’re just starting to hit the busy time of year, so our numbers are going to continue to go up,” Marston said.

INCREASED DEMAND

Sharing and Caring fed more people in September than ever before, helping 1,166 residents, including 41 new clients, according to its president, Robin Marston.

“And the numbers have gone way up since then,” she said, adding that closure of The Raymond Williams Mission Center on Highway 90 has driven many of its clients to Sharing and Caring.

WANT TO HELP?

Here's how you can help Crestview's Sharing and Caring food bank:

•Organize regular non-perishable food donations at your church and community organizations

•Regularly donate cash and non-perishable items. Deliver donations to Sharing and Caring, 298 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., in Crestview. Call 682-1907 for more details.

•Donate canned ham, stuffing mix, potatoes, canned gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, mushroom soup and desserts for Christmas dinners

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE WAY UP': Food bank serves record number of residents

DESTIN — Shelter House, the domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton counties, will present a twilight run next month.

The 4th Annual Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence takes place 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Destin. Runners will follow a course lined with more than 2,000 luminarias lighting their path.

Prices for adults through Dec. 4 are $30 for the 5K and $45 for the 9K; Dec. 5-6 prices are $40 for the 5K and $55 for the 9K. Youth prices for children ages 3-12 are $10 for the 5K and $15 for the 9K.

“We chose the 9K distance to represent that a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds in the U.S.,” Shelter House Executive Director Michelle Sperzel said. “The luminarias symbolize how Shelter House and our community partners light the way to a safer place for victims of abuse.”

Runners are encouraged to wear reflective gear, and a prize will be awarded for the best lit runner.

Register for the race or call 243-1201 for more details. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: December races scheduled to raise domestic, sexual violence awareness

CRESTVIEW — Fifteen influential films depicting World War II will be examined during a Nov. 4 lecture at the Crestview Public Library.

News Bulletin Arts Editor Brian Hughes will share background stories and behind-the-scenes information about the making of cinematic WWII tales. The lecture begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Crestview Public Library.

Attendees can learn about films ranging from 1957's “The Bridge on the River Kwai” to recent blockbusters, such as “The Monuments Men,” inspired by war adventures from the 1960s.

Through production photos and advertising materials, attendees may remember classic scenes such as:

•Clint Eastwood, Telly Savales and Donald Sutherland staring down a German Tiger tank in “Kelly’s Heroes”

•Steve McQueen outrunning Wehrmacht pursuers on a stolen motorcycle in “The Great Escape”

•Richard Harris enticing Kirk Douglas to join “The Heroes of Telemark”

•George C. Scott’s memorable address to his troops as “Patton.”

Hughes has presented programs about World War II films at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and at the Crestview library.

Early attendees can enjoy light refreshments and view trailers from classic World War II films. Original advertising posters will be displayed.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT:“The Classic Films of World War II”

WHEN:10:30 a.m. Nov. 4

WHERE:Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lecture on World War II films set for Tuesday

CRESTVIEW — OneMain Financial employees  will host a show car event in the Crestview Marketplace Plaza parking lot this week.

They will be collecting Toys for Tots donations during the event, which is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at 1330 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview (near Winn Dixie).

Visitors will be able to take a photo with the OneMain Financial racecar No. 11, which is driven by NASCAR driver Elliot Sadler.

Hotdogs will be served.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Toys for Tots fundraiser in Crestview features NASCAR vehicle

CRESTVIEW — Area residents can learn more about local history when they check out one of the Crestview Public Library's latest additions.

The Daughters of the American Colonists' Eucheeanna Chapter provided "Pioneering in the Panhandle," William James Wells' book about selected local events and families, to the library.

DAC members celebrate their heritage as descendants of the American Colonials. Contact Margaret Nichols, 897-1278, or see http://eucheeannachapterdac.wordpress.com for more information about the group.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Daughters of the American Colonists donate regional history book

FORT WALTON BEACH — The United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties' annual fundraising campaign is 40 percent closer to a higher $1,225,000 goal.

The 11.6 percent increase was driven by requests of the United Way's 42 partner agencies. 

“To help us reach this aggressive goal, United Way received help from its first-ever Pacesetter Campaign under the leadership of Betty Brassell from First City Bank," Walter Hooks, vice president of Regions Bank and the 2014 campaign chair, said. "We had 13 companies who conducted and completed their annual workplace campaign before the official campaign began Sept. 13."

2014 Pacesetter Companies included:

•City of Fort Walton Beach

•Carr, Riggs & Ingram

•CCB Community Bank

•First City Bank

•Fresh Start for Children & Families

•Gulf Power Company

•Hancock Bank

•MITRE

•Northwest Florida Daily News

•Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office

•Regions Bank

•Target: Destin and Fort Walton Beach locations

The United Way of Okaloosa & Walton Counties, a nonprofit, provides leadership and resources to those in need. It particularly serves causes associated with education and youth, financial stability and disaster support, and health and wellness.

The fundraising campaign ends Dec. 1. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: United Way 40 percent toward fundraising goal