The Columbus County Partnership for Children (Smart Start) will host its annual “pajama distribution” on Thursday, December 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Smart Start Early Learning Facility located at 107 W. Main St. in Whiteville.

The event will provide free pajamas to children ages birth to five. The sleepwear will be distributed free of charge until they are gone. Children must be present. Pajama sizes are standard for boys and girls up to age 5. Colors, styles, quantities and designs may  vary.

Items will be pre-packaged for random and quick pick-up (only one package per child age birth to five). The Partnership is unable to accommodate special requests for styles, colors or designs of the sleepwear. All Columbus County children, ages birth to five, are invited to the event.

The National Pajama Program provides warm sleepwear and books to children who are in need. The program operates in the United States as well as in other countries. In the past, the Partnership collaborated with the Pajama Program and distributed sleepwear to local community service agencies. This year’s event is being supported by YWCA Lower Cape Fear and the Early Parenthood Program; Campbell Soup Supply Company and various vendors in Columbus County.

For more information about the Pajama Distribution or other services of the Columbus County Partnership for Children, call 910-642-8226, visitwww.columbussmartstart.org or follow the Columbus County Partnership for Children on  Facebook.

Administrative office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Vist the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences  at Whiteville’s Teen Science Café at 415 S. Madison Street in Whiteville, from 5:00-6:30 pm on Friday, December 13,2019 to hear about sustainable and alternative agricultural options that will allow us to continue enjoying the foods we love so much!

The speaker is Leroy Humphries who grew up in Mullins, S.C. and currently owns a local small farm with his wife. Humphries was recently appointed as the Lead Instructor for the new Agribusiness Technology program at Southeastern Community College where he has been a part of the Science Department since 2012.  Humphries is a US Navy veteran serving in Operation Desert Storm and is currently working on his PhD in Marine Biology at UNC Wilmington with a focus on the effects of sea level rise on coastal forests and agricultural land.

Teen Science Café is an informal, interactive program with a visiting scientist or professional expert that promotes exploration, creativity and lifelong learning. Teen Science Café Whiteville programs are free. Free food is offered at the end of the event for all participating teens.   Teen Science Cafés are recommended for ages 11-17.

Advance registration for this free event is encouraged, but not required, at www.tinyurl.com/TSCwhiteville.

Teen Science Café Whiteville is in its eighth year of free STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) based programs for teens.  Teen Science Café Whiteville is part of a nationwide program. For more information about the Teen Science Café National Network, visit www.teensciencecafe.org.

Can’t come to the event? Cafés are recorded and archived on Facebook for your convenience. Link to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/teensciencecafewhiteville. Café recordings are located under the “Videos” tab of the Facebook page.

SAVE THE DATE:  on January 17, 2020, join TSC Whiteville for a presentation on comic book art by local comic book writer and illustrator, David Johnson.