Stronger Together: Johnston County residents face the challenges of COVID-19 together

Staff reports

Here at Johnston Now magazine, we’re quick to remind everyone that we are not a go-to source for breaking news. We also don’t deal with crime or political topics. There are plenty of places for you to get that sort of coverage.

The same is true for basic coronavirus coverage. There are a number of outlets that will keep you updated with the latest positive test counts and other pertinent public health information. We prefer to focus on the silver lining of what has been an unprecedented situation.

With that in mind, here are a few things that your friends and neighbors have been doing during the pandemic.

Taking care of Four Oaks first responders

FOUR OAKS — Four Oaks Middle School and the Four Oaks Athletic Boosters teamed up to provide drinks and snacks to the Four Oaks Police Department and the Four Oaks Volunteer Fire Department

“We are thankful for their hard work during this time,” Four Oaks Area Chamber of Commerce Director Joan Pritchett said. “We are always better together, even if we are six feet apart!”

Anthony Fife has been doing a little chalk artwork to brighten his Clayton neighborhood. He and his wife, Amy, own Renzi Tate Furnishings.

Lane & Associates Family Dentistry gives back to its employees and community

GARNER — As the largest dental practice in the state, Lane & Associates Family Dentistry (LAA) is proud to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the guidelines recommended by the American Dental Association, CDC and the N.C. Dental Board, LAA responded immediately by treating emergency patients and restricting elective procedures. This decision prioritized the safety of their patients, the community and their employees.

By treating dental emergencies, LAA is able to reduce the number of patients seen at urgent care facilities and hospitals, freeing up resources during this uncertain time.

“As health care professionals, we have a role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and flattening the curve in order to follow public health advice, help limit infections and slow the spread of the virus,” said Dr. Don Lane, owner of Lane & Associates.

LAA is also encouraged by its staff as they go above and beyond; donating blood to the Red Cross and assisting with the PPE shortage. Teams are sewing masks made with materials provided by the company. Nearly 1,000 masks will be donated to the UNC Health Care system.

Glow Yoga in Clayton offering free classes

“Just Breathe Guided Meditations” are being offered by Glow Yoga on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m., via Zoom. Visit www.glowyoganc.com to sign up.

House-Autry puts families first with 16,000-pound food donation

FOUR OAKS — As a local food manufacturer with North Carolina roots that stretch back over 200 years, House-Autry is committed to helping our community through this unprecedented challenge.

To demonstrate that commitment, the company has donated more than 16,000 pounds of breaders and mixes to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

This donation will provide nourishing meals for thousands of North Carolinians who may not have access to the food they need.

“During this time of anxiety and uncertainty, we need to pull together as a family like never before,” House-Autry CEO Craig Hagood said. “We will get on the other side of this challenge. Our schedules may be turned upside down right now, but together we will get through it.”

House-Autry offers their thanks to all of the agency organizations and volunteers that are helping our community through these challenging times.

FLAG of Clayton teams up with local residents and restaurants to provide meals to Johnston Health workers in Smithfield and Clayton.

Sami’s Pizza and Pasta in Smithfield makes generous offer

In April, Sami’s Pizza and Pasta offered a free slice of cheese pizza per day, per school-aged child in need.

Deep River Brewing Company serves as drop off location for food bank

CLAYTON — Deep River Brewing Company is serving as a drop off location for the Clayton Area Ministries (CAM) Food Bank. CAM has been working hard the last few weeks to provide for the community and among the items urgently needed are: pasta sauce, rice, oatmeal, grits, canned food, peanut butter and jelly.

Visit the brewery, Align Family Chiropractic or Brad Palmer’s Edward Jones Office from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day to donate goods.

Members of Stevens Chapel Baptist Church installed and refilled bird feeders at nursing homes around the county.

Stevens Chapel Baptist Church spreading cheer

SMITHFIELD — A few members of Stevens Chapel Baptist Church visited six nursing home facilities in the county to install and refill bird feeders. This helped residents, who were quarantined because of the coronavirus, have something fun to see outside their windows.

In addition, the church traveled around the week before Easter and hid eggs in yards. They hid 12 in each location, 11 with treats and one empty one to represent the empty tomb.

FLAG chapter serves meals to first responders, health care professionals

Melissa Brown and Beverly Schechtman started a local Front Line Appreciation Group (FLAG) to help raise money to provide meals from local restaurants for the 210 front line health care professionals and staff members at Johnston Health’s Smithfield and Clayton locations.

They have partnered with Johnston Health and will be providing meals for all of the 150 employees at Smithfield and 60 employees at Clayton every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

To learn more, visit their Facebook group at www. tinyurl.com/s2x92j2.

State Farm agent Amanda Hagood, left, and APR Restoration’s Bernice Lopes teamed up for a Grab and Go Lunch for Kids in Raleigh.

InStill Distilling Co. turns rum into sanitizer

CLAYTON — To help meet the needs of Claytonarea first responders, InStill Distilling Co., with an assist from Clayton Bakery & Cafe, started converting bottles of their rum into hand sanitizer.

“It’s our rum at a very high proof, mixed with hydrogen peroxide and glycerin and distilled water,” Eric Tansey, InStill’s owner, told WRAL.

Rich Girard, owner of Clayton Bakery & Cafe, worked with the World Health Organization on the formula.

Johnston County Visitors Bureau provides list of events

Looking for a list of pick-up and virtual events? Visit www. johnstoncountync.org/events/ for a growing list of options.

Here for Good NC campaign gives money back to area businesses

Chess Royal, owner of Trophy Case, launched the Here For Good NC campaign. Every shirt sold gives $10 back

to a local business that the purchaser chooses. They are still accepting local businesses that would like to be included in the list of recipients.

Visit www.hereforgoodnc.com to learn more.

Clayton Piano Festival hosts virtual concert

Clayton Piano Festival hosted a home concert livestream event on April 11, featuring past CPF performers directly from their living rooms. Rachel Flowers, Matthew Harrison, Julia Mortyakova, Valentin Bogdan and Angelo Rondello were the performers, while Johnathan Levin and Christin Danchi were the hosts.

“The lockdown and closings have affected musicians and the arts community in devastating ways,” Levin, founder of the Clayton Piano Festival, said. “Since Covid-19 spread worldwide, I’ve seen friends from all over the world speak first of cancellations — this and that festival, opera productions, concerts, orchestra jobs and then the dialogue switched to a real fight for survival, as it becomes more clear that (things) may not be back to normal for quite some time.

“With this in mind, I spoke to my board members and they were in agreement that artists need both encouragement and an outlet to share their work now more than ever. So we agreed to try a livestream concert — a sort of musical tour of the country — checking in with musicians around the nation to hear their music and bring more awareness of their need.

“Personally, I’ve struggled with a feeling that music, and most of the other creative things that I’ve built my life around, aren’t vitally important right now, and that I wish I could help out in perhaps more ‘essential’ ways. But what I’ve noticed over and over again through producing these concerts and performing myself, is that music is vitally essential, and a world without it is not necessarily something I would want to be a part of.”