FRANKLIN
At the Cover 3 Foundation headquarters on Tuesday, Oct. 21, Cover 3 and United Way are inviting the community to learn more about what they do, as part of the Franklin-Southampton Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours. The event will start at 5:30 and end at 7 p.m. at the 125 S. College Drive location.

“It’s an opportunity to learn about both of our organizations, plus several others,” said Anne Bryant, Franklin-Southampton County United Way director. “It is a chance to talk and found out what we are doing to help folks in Franklin and Southampton County.”

Greg Scott, founder of C3, said he also wants to inform people about the foundation.

“We want to let people know what Cover 3 all about and that our mission is to help children through coaching and mentoring and services,” Scott said. “We just want to let people know some of the things we are doing in the community to try to improve life for the up and coming youth.”

United Way supports 24 agencies, and of those 24 several will also be there, including Boy Scouts, Food Bank, Franklin City Educational Foundation, Genieve Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Tidewater Youth Services and Western Tidewater Free Clinic.

For instance, with the FCEF, United Way was able to give money to help with the Book Buddies program at S.P. Morton. Last year the Genieve Shelter helped 17 households in Franklin and Southampton County.

The Tidewater Youth Services program works at J.P. King Jr. Middle School. They are working with at-risk children, who could potential fail, drop out or get in trouble. There are 20 children in the program.

In total, Bryant said, the organizations that UW supports were able to provide services 30,000 times in Franklin and Southampton County.

Cover 3’s programs include feeding, through the kid’s meals program for after school and summer, reaching, such as the young philanthropist program; and teaching, which includes the youth football and the cheer league.

Bryant said there will be food, and she also wanted to add that you would not be solicited for money.

“Come find out how these folks are helping the community,” she said. “And come find out how you can help if you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities.

“It’s also a chance to socialize with other active people in the community.”

Scott said people should come on out. He also thought the non-profits could get something out of working together more.

“The more you can work with fellow non-profits, the more you can help your community — because we are all working together for that cause,” he said. “Maybe something will come out of this where we really can come together to help the community.”

To learn more about the area’s United Way, visit http://www.franklinunitedway.org/. For Cover 3, visit www.cover3foundation.org/.