A Shriner Kid all grown up by Stacey Manning
Managing Editor Brunswick Beacon
If you haven’t met the nice folks at the South Brunswick Island Shrine Club,
you’re missing out.
On June 4 members invited me to talk about the way Shrine generosity has
impacted my life.
Their clean, brightly lit building on Old Shallotte Road gave welcome to big
smiles, handshakes, a good meal and lots of hospitality. Before I knew it I was
standing in front of an attentive crowd, feeling humbled to share part of my
story.
I was born with a birth defect that affected my ability to walk. My legs were
twisted from the hips down, and I required leg braces as a kid. Before that, as
a baby I had to wear corrective shoes attached to a metal bar.
So what does that have to do with the Shriners?
Through generosity of the Louisville (Ky.) Shrine Temple and their supporters at
Kosair Charities they helped provide medical care and devices so I could walk
normally.
Today, unless I mention it, no one would know I had a problem, and that wouldn’t
be the case if it weren’t for the kindness of Shriners and Kosair Charities.
Good work like this is something done on a daily basis for the people who
dedicate their lives to being Shriners. Through fundraising and charitable
giving, Shriners help children through its network of Shriners Children’s
Hospitals.
Steve Norris, Divan, a lifelong Brunswick County resident and local Sudan
Shriner, told me about 28 children in this area are receiving care through
Shriners hospital services.
Shriners Hospitals for Children provide care for young people with orthopedic or
burn issues at no cost. Shriners also provide transportation to Shrine hospitals
from here to places like Cincinnati, Ohio, Greenville, S.C., Boston and
Philadelphia.
As you can imagine, it takes a lot of money to provide high quality medical
services and transportation for children. That’s why people like those in the
local Shrine club are important. They volunteer for Shrine events and raise
money so children can continue to receive quality healthcare, no matter their
socioeconomic status.
I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for Shriner generosity. There are
thousands of others who can say the same.
Are you interested in helping Shriners make sure children with orthopedic and
burn issues have access to quality medical services, no matter how much it
costs? Get involved with Shriners and help them on their fun, fundraising
journeys.
You can help them with events and enjoy being a part of their parade unit and
take part in dinners, sporting events (like fishing) and other social events
throughout the year. From my brief meeting with them, it seems like they have a
lot of fun doing the things they do.
The South Brunswick Islands Shrine Club meets the first Thursday of every month
at the Shrine building on Old Shallotte Road in Shallotte. The evening starts
with a social at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and a meeting around 7.
If you’d like to know more about the organization and how to get involved,
contact Dana Mauldin at 754-9125 or visit www.sudanshriners.com.
To learn more about Shriners Children’s Hospitals and the work they do for young
people visit www.shrinershq.org online.
Reprinted with permission, The Brunswick Beacon.