PIT Instruction & Training now accredited testing facility for American Welding Society

MOORESVILLE — PIT Instruction & Training, LLC (PIT) has announced that it has become an accredited testing facility for the American Welding Society (AWS) and is now offering a certified welder program in addition to its welding and pit crew training classes.

The status allows PIT to be included as one of only a few locations in the state of North Carolina and one of fewer than 150 locations nationwide with an AWS certified welder program, which allows PIT to offer welding programs with an option for certification with the AWS.

The certified welder program is designed for individuals who wish to obtain certification under specific AWS code, giving added credibility to their abilities as a professional welder and the opportunity to quickly advance their welding career.

Testing dates are scheduled monthly for those who wish to achieve their certification at PIT. AWS certification testing is available to anyone who already has training and experience as a welder, as well as graduates of PIT’s “Pit Weld U” powered by Miller Welders.

Companies who wish to certify or maintain certification for their staff under AWS code can do so through PIT’s certified welder program.

Testing can also be done on-site to reduce employee downtime as needed.

Learn more about PIT at www.VisitPIT.com or email a crew member at pitcrew@VisitPIT.com.

Stichin’ Post Gifts to celebrate “new look” after floor rearrangement

SALISBURY — Stitchin’ Post Gifts is celebrating a “fresh new look” on April 26 from 4
p.m. to 7 p.m. after a major rearrangement of the sales floor.

The store is located at 104 South Main St. in downtown Salisbury.

Proceeds from sales during the 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. time period will benefit Family Crisis Council of Rowan County.

There will be gifts for all attendees and appetizers, wine and other beverages will be served.

Some representatives will be on hand to talk about their lines and offer samples to
customers.

There will be a drawing to give away items from brands including Brighton, Uno de 50, Uwharrie Spa Essentials and Luca & Danni.

The event is open to the public and everyone is welcome.

Margaret Hylton and Pam Hylton Coffield started Stitchin’ Post Gifts in 1975 as a needlework
shop. The business has diversified over the years and now offers ladies’ fashions,
accessories and specialty gifts.

For more information, contact the store at 704-637- 0708.

Panera Bread to donate all proceeds from its ‘Pieces of Hope’ cookie campaign to Autism Society of North Carolina

CENTRAL AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA — Covelli Enterprises, the largest franchisee of Panera Bread, is proud to announce the launch of its “Pieces of Hope for Autism” cookie campaign during Autism Awareness month in its newly acquired North Carolina cafés.

From April 23 through April 29, 100 percent of the proceeds from all “Pieces of Hope” cookie sales will be donated to Autism Society of North Carolina.

The puzzle piece cookie, made from Panera Bread’s famous shortbread and topped with sweet white icing and an edible sugar decal, has been specially designed to represent the symbol for autism and will be sold in all cafes in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point, Burlington, Kernersville, Clemmons, Hickory, Boone, Salisbury and Mooresville.

While this is the first year for the campaign in the North Carolina cafés, Covelli Enterprises has hosted “Pieces of Hope for Autism” cookie sales in its other markets since 2010.

Since then, the company has donated more than $1.4 million to autism organizations in the areas it serves and through this year’s campaign, the company expects that total to surpass $1.7 million with the addition of the North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia markets.

The company acquired 22 cafés in South Carolina and Georgia by the end of the 2016 and acquired 15 more in North Carolina in May 2017.

“We’re excited to launch the ‘Pieces of Hope for Autism’ campaign in our newly acquired North Carolina market because I know how much good this campaign does in our communities,” said Sam Covelli, owner and operator of Covelli Enterprises. “This special cookie campaign allows us to make such a positive difference in the community, which is what we aim to do every day through our products and our bakery-cafes.”

Throughout the month of April, Panera Bread will also be collecting Community Breadbox donations at the registers of all of its local cafés to raise additional funds for the cause as part of its Covelli Cares community support.

Panera Bread is encouraging “Pieces of Hope” campaign supporters to share photos of their cookies on social media using #everycookiecounts.

Cookies may be pre-ordered online at www.covelli.com/autism. The cookie was reformulated in 2016 to align with Panera Bread’s clean food policy. It is made completely free of any artificial colors, flavors, additives or preservatives.

Panera Bread hosted an internal T-shirt design contest for its employees as part of this year’s campaign. The T-shirts that will be worn by staff inside all participating Covelli-owned Panera Bread cafés during the week-long cookie sale was designed by a member of the Panera Bread baking team in Amherst, Ohio.

North Carolina Tractor Supply stores donate $40,000 to fund local FFA projects

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company and the National FFA Organization are supporting North Carolina’s next generation of agricultural leaders through the third annual Grants for Growing program. This year, North Carolina Tractor Supply stores raised $40,000 through customer donations to fund local, youth-led agriculture projects made possible by the initiative.

Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, awarded 17 grants to North Carolina FFA chapters that requested funding to build or enhance sustainable educational projects that will further their students’ understanding of agriculture. In North Carolina, the grants will help fund a variety of projects including improvements to a school farm, a garden project and an animal science outdoor learning lab.

“Grants for Growing not only allows us to invest in North Carolina communities but also invest in North Carolina youth who are the future of the agriculture industry,” said Christi Korzekwa, senior vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply. “This program gives students hands-on learning experience as they watch their ideas turn their communities into stronger, more sustainable places.”

Between Jan. 10 and Feb. 14, FFA received nearly 600 applications from FFA chapters across the country detailing how they would start or expand a unique and sustainable project. This year, Tractor Supply awarded grants to more than 270 FFA chapters nationwide.

Coinciding with National FFA Week, Tractor Supply hosted a 10-day in-store fundraising event nationwide, which offered shoppers the opportunity to donate at checkout in support of the program. The fundraiser collectively raised a record-breaking $830,000 for National FFA Foundation.

Many FFA chapters participated in additional fundraising opportunities at their local Tractor Supply stores to supplement donations, including bake sales and car washes.

Since the program’s start in 2016, Grants for Growing has raised more than $2.2 million for the National FFA Organization. In total, the initiative has funded 994 grants supporting projects involving more than 103,000 students.

For more details about the program, visit www.FFA.org/grantsforgrowing.