Third annual Bingo for Babes
The Salisbury Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. (Alpha Alpha Zeta) held its third annual Bingo for Babes fundraiser at the local Firewater Restaurant on March 17. This fundraiser will help with the fight for the health for all moms and babies. The Sorority continues to work with the March of Dimes to empower families with the knowledge and tools to have healthier pregnancies. By uniting communities we’re building a brighter future for us all.
Since 1972, the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and March of Dimes have joined forces to conduct prematurity awareness activities in houses of worship. Congregations learn more about the infant health crisis that nearly half a million families cope with each year. This year marks the 15th consecutive year of Zeta’s participation by leading this nationwide grassroots campaign.
Several local chapter members will participate with the March for Babies Walk in Troutman at the ESC park on April 21. Vincia Benjamin-Miller serves as President-Basileus and Rashia Cobb, Community Involvement chairperson of the chapter.

Salisbury Lions give preschoolers vision scans
On March 19, a five-member team from the Salisbury Lions Club gathered at Salisbury’s First Baptist Church for a very special purpose — to screen 18 pre-schoolers at the Wee Center for eye/ vision problems. This was the first outing for the Lions using the new SPOT Visual Refraction Camera as a stand-alone device. This new SPOT device allows the club to quickly and efficiently screen children as young as 6 months old.
The SPOT camera astonished everyone. 18 pre-schoolers were screened in nine minutes.
“It was remarkable how fast it went,” stated Jessica Casey, director of the Wee Center at First Baptist.
“There were actually two instances where we were able to scan three children in the same minute,” Lion Don Conner said.
The Salisbury Lions Club is now fully operational with the new SPOT camera and are excited to serve the community of Salisbury-Rowan with this service.
Contact Don Conner at 704-213 2126 for information on scheduling a screening at your day care or school.

American Diabetes Association Alert Day and the YMCA of Rowan County
March 27 is American Diabetes Association Alert Day, and the YMCA of Rowan County wants residents of Rowan to know their risk for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, as well as preventive steps they can take today to reduce the chances of developing the disease. Take the diabetes risk test at www.ymca.net/diabetes. Your Y is offering Diabetes Prevention Classes. For additional information or to register for a class, contact Laurie Ward, program manager at lward@rowanymca.org or 704-216-9622.

Rowan Redbuds
The Rowan Redbuds Garden Club met Thursday, March 22, in the Stanback Room at Rowan Public Library.  President Carolyn Alexander presided.  If you are interested in visiting the club, call 704-637-0928 for more information.

April 2 is deadline for art grants
The Rowan Arts Council announces Monday, April 2 as the deadline for the 2018 spring cycle for Arts & Cultural Development (ACD) grant applications. The ACD grants are designed to support the vision and mission of the Rowan Arts Council by providing direct support to arts and cultural partners.
Application forms and guidelines are available at http://www.visitsalisburync.com/rowanartscouncil/grants/arts-cultural-grant/
The Rowan Arts Council will also mail applications and guidelines upon request. Applications may be mailed to the RAC Office at 204 E. Innes St., Ste. 120, Salisbury, NC 28144, emailed to rowanarts@visitsalisburync.com or faxed to 704-642-2011. Applications must be received no later than April 2, 2018.
The Rowan Arts Council is available to assist interested applicants in preparing competitive grants. For questions or more information, contact Rowan Arts Council at 704-638-3100 or email rowanarts@visitsalisburync.com

Save the Boys! event to benefit Restore One
Restore One is a ministry that seeks to open shelters that offer faith-based residential recovery programs, free of cost to American boys who are survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST).
On Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. the fundraiser will be held at 165 Troutman Road, Rockwell.
Raffle tickets are available for a $500+ prize, at $2 for one ticket or $5 for three. For more information contact Kristy at 704-797-1917.
Restore One will treat every survivor as a unique individual by using holistic approaches and proven clinical methods that nurture healing and restoration. Restore One also counteracts human trafficking and human exploitation by community awareness, education, outreach and partnerships. Restore One’s goal is to see DMST survivors live in complete freedom, and to generate communities that are intolerable to the problem of human trafficking and human exploitation. See Restoreonelife.org to learn more.