Training and experience save co-worker’s life

liver mush, gravy, grits, biscuits, toast, coffee, and juice.

Members of three American Legion branches, Auxiliary, Legion Riders, and Sons of the American Legion volunteer to take requests, deliver orders, and clean up afterward.

All veterans are invited to this free breakfast. Others are welcome to attend for a small donation that helps fund future breakfasts.

Golden Leaf Food Distribution Program

Food Distribution Assistance Program is funded by an appropriation from the N.C. General Assembly and up to $250,000 per project is available for the following:

• Grants to nonprofit organizations to assist those organizations in (i) becoming eligible to be partner agencies of a North Carolina food bank or (ii) enhancing or expanding the capacity of current partner agencies of North Carolina food banks.

• Grants to nonprofit organizations to assist those organizations in (i) establishing a school-based weekend food assistance program or (ii) enhancing or expanding the capacity of current schoolbased weekend food assistance programs.

Funds may be used for a variety of purposes, including building renovation or expansion, large equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks), small equipment, dry good storage shelves, freezers/coolers, vehicles to transport food, freezer blankets, tents or other equipment for drivethru or outdoor distribution, ServSafe Certification classes, computers or tablets, project-related staffing including grant and construction administration.

How to apply: First phase of the process is the Pre-Application, which will open on January 23 and close on February 7. Organizations are encouraged to visit our website to review the Pre-Application guidelines to begin to gather the required documents. Organizations that completed the Pre-Application in the first round do not need to resubmit.

Organizations with questions should visit www.goldenleaf.org and scroll down until you see a button labeled “Contact Staff”.

Educator professional development awards available

The Governor’s Educator Discovery Awards recognize the value of quality professional development for teachers at all phases of their careers. The program will provide a stipend of up to $1,000 for preK-12 traditional public and public charter school teachers to pursue a professional development experience of their choosing.

Teachers can use the grant award to attend a workshop or conference that deepens their subject area knowledge, such as a coding workshop for computer science teachers, or a session on how to create a project-based learning experience for students. Applicants need to describe how their participation in the professional development experience will enhance their efforts to create a work-based learning activity for their students.

Work-based learning strengthens the state’s talent pipeline by providing North Carolinians with career awareness, career exploration, and real-world career experience to build employability and technical skills. Workbased learning creates deeper connections between class- room curriculum and future careers. Work-based learning is a powerful tool for engaging and motivating students. These experiences generate a more well-rounded education improving a students’ chance for future success.

The Governor’s Educator Discovery Award asks teachers to connect their proposed professional development opportunity with the workbased learning that happens in their classroom. Successful applicants explain how their professional development opportunity will enhance their ability to create work-based learning activities for their students.

Educators can I apply for funding to attend any professional development opportunity, but applicants must specify their professional development opportunity ahead of time, and their choice will be evaluated as part of their application package. They encourage applicants to find a reputable professional development opportunity that will tangibly and meaningfully have a positive impact on their teaching.

Information about many

Special to the Herald from Atrium Health

Atrium Health Mobile Medicine paramedic Calvin Cobb was in between patient visits when he came across what he thought was a minor fender bender on the side of a busy road in Cleveland County in early January.

“I was headed back to the hospital when I saw two cars pulled over and a woman in the road trying to flag someone down,” says Calvin. “Something didn’t seem right and then I saw a man lying on the ground and I knew I had to stop.”

And if Calvin didn’t stop, this story would have a much different outcome.

Lying on the ground was 32-year-old Brandon Hord. In laymen’s terms – he was dead. He wasn’t breathing and he didn’t have a pulse. Calvin immediately began CPR and, for a short time, found a pulse. Given he has a wealth of life-saving experience from working in the emergency room at Atrium Health Cleveland to serving as a certified CPR instructor, Calvin knew these moments were critical and continued CPR until first responders arrived.

Brandon felt pain in his chest for about two days. He wasn’t sure what was happening. Could it be anxiety or something worse? He knew cardiac issues ran in his family, but never suspected a heart attack at such a young age.

When the pain became unbearable, Brandon’s mother drove him to the hospital. On the way there, he tried to call 911 but his heart stopped beating and his mother made the call. That’s how Brandon ended up lying on the ground on the side of the road.

“The last memory I have of that day was trying to call 911,” says Brandon. “And then I remember flashes of a defibrillator and asking the first responders if I could talk to my daughters.”

Brandon says first responders had to “shock” him several times on the professional development opportunities can be found online at https://www.experiencemorenc.com/educator-discovery-award. In the past, recipients have attended a varied array of conferences, including the ISTE Annual Conference, the Broadway Teacher’s Workshop, and the Adobe Max Creative Conference. You can also ask other educators for professional development recommendations. The awards are funded by generous members of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education. Cycle 10 is now live! Applications close at the end of March. way to the emergency room, a total of more than 20 times throughout his care. He was rushed into a cardiac catheterization lab where a stent was placed to open the blocked artery.

Many would say Brandon is extremely lucky. He says the type of heart attack he suffered is called a “widow maker,” because it’s so often deadly – es- pecially outside hospital walls. But, thanks to several good Samaritans, including Calvin, Brandon lived to celebrate his 33rd birthday on January 23.

Calvin continued CPR as other help arrived. As an instructor, even Calvin is surprised a little when he performs CPR in real life.

“You fall back on your training, it’s like muscle memory,” adds Calvin. “No matter how many times you do it (CPR) there are a million things running through my head, but I remember this is what I need to do next; then this; and your brain and your body just kick into autopilot, in a sense.”

Days after Brandon’s heart attack, the two men were introduced and realized they are connected by more than just this life-changing event. Both men work for Atrium Health, within the Mobile Medicine department –Calvin, as a paramedic seeing patients in their home via Atrium Health Hospital at Home, and Brandon as a communication specialist with MedCenter Air, dispatching crews on other life-saving missions.

“I remember his mom saying he works for MedCenter Air, but it didn’t click,” says Calvin. “I was focused on the CPR. But, wow, how things work out!”

“It is wild,” adds Brandon. “To have someone you work with in the same department, but don’t know, be able to assist you in your time of need, is incredible and something I am extremely grateful for.”

Calvin is the first recipient of Atrium’s Mobile Integrated Health Warrior award based upon what Calvin did, and they look forward to having more recipients in the future.

The plaque reads “Atrium Health Mobile Integrated Health Warrior Award presented to Calvin Cobb in recognition of your courageous and lifesaving actions. Never forget the difference you make every day. ‘Semper Gumby – Always Flexible’ (Calvin’s life moto) January 2023”