CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Republican Party on Saturday evening celebrated Possum Day at the Festhalle downtown.
Party Chair Steve Cummings said, “Possum Day’s a Southern version of Groundhog Day. It’s our third annual; we had a break in between from 2010, 2011 to now. We’re bringing it back. If the possum feels a breeze on the last Saturday before the first football games start, then fall will come early. If not, if he doesn’t feel a breeze, then six more weeks of summer. So, looks like there’s going to be a breeze tonight, so we can see the flag flying. It’s about five miles an hour, qualifies as a breeze, so I think we’re good!”
There were strong man and art contests and the “Mouth of the South” Vienna Sausage and Moon Pie eating contest, but the big winners were three area charities:
Curt’s Closet
On the clothing charity’s Facebook page, founder Ashley Wilson wrote:
Curt’s Closet was started to honor my precious son, Curtis James Wilson, who was tragically killed on May 7, 2017, by giving back to the community he so dearly loved and that loved him. Curt had such a loving and giving heart, what better way to carry on his legacy than to love and give back.
We are a boutique feel shop, where families in need can come ‘shop’ for clothing, shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes, and prom dresses, all for free. We serve families that are low income, foster families, families that have had a recent house fire, sickness in the family, military families, and many more situations.
We are able to spread the love of Christ in Curt’s memory because of the amazing community we live in, without the monetary donations and the donations of the items we provide here, we could not do the service Curt’s Closet provides.
On Saturday evening, Wilson told The Tribune, “Possum Day is an experience I have never done before. It’s very interesting, yes, and I was very honored when Steve called me up and asked if we could be a part of today. It was very generous of them. As always, this community’s amazing, and it’s the reason I can do what I do at Curt’s Closet: give back to the community.”
For more on Curt’s Closet, visit www.facebook.com/cw20curtscloset/
Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK)
The child abuse prevention group, best known for its community food pantry, says of itself, “Our Dream, our Mission is that no child will ever be abused, will not go to bed hungry, that infants will never be shaken in anger, and generation after generation of the cycle of abuse will be stopped. Our dream, our mission is to see the next generation, loved, encouraged, physically and emotionally prepared to face life, and that they feel wanted and needed in their world. To accomplish our dream, we must stop the cycle of abuse and neglect, by putting love in their hearts, food in their stomachs, and smiles on their faces.”
In addition to its food pantry, CCK hosts radio shows and educational programs on child abuse prevention and sponsors court-appointed child advocates.
On Saturday evening, Assistant Director Nancy Bryant told The Tribune, “It was a very nice opportunity to come out to Possum Day and be part of this and be one of the three charities. It’s been great!”
For more on Cullman Caring for Kids, visit www.cullmancaringforkids.com.
Restoring Women Outreach (RWO)
The group describes itself as “a Christian non-profit 12-step recovery program dedicated to restoring hope and rebuilding lives of addicted women in a 12-18-month residential recovery process. We provide our residents individual and group counseling, life skill classes, work therapy, GED preparation, intensive addiction classes, Bible classes, community outreach, as well as other classes to enrich the lives of the women involved in the program.”
On Saturday evening, RWO’s Betty Dunn said of her group’s inclusion in Possum Day, “I think it’s an awesome thing. Actually, I am one of the graduates from the program- been about four and a half years ago that I graduated, and now I’m a full-time employee there. It saved my life, and I hope, one day, that it can save some of these other ladies’ lives that comes through the program. If we can help one person, that’s what we’re there for.”
For more on Restoring Women Outreach, visit www.facebook.com/Restoring-Women-Outreach-Inc-507636689278874/.
Cummings was disappointed at low turnout for the fundraising contests, but remained committed to helping the featured charities, saying, “(We) haven’t had a lot of participants on that, so we’re probably just going to give them a donation out of the Republican Party.”
Asked about the choice of charities, Cummings said, “They’re local and they’re good people, and we’ve known them for- Restoring Women Outreach, they do a lot of great work, and my church had some things to do with getting it started, and some people in my church. They do a lot of good for the community, so this is kind of a give-back thing.”
According to Cummings, the county party hopes to see a much larger event during next year’s 2020 election cycle.
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The evening’s guest of honor seemed more interested in “playing possum” than in entertaining the crowd. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
