Around town: Saturday, March 14, 2026
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Register today to get Hands-Only CPR trained for free through the American Heart Association at Sumter HOPE Centers. Spots are limited, so sign up early. Ages 15 and up are welcome to train. Online registration is required. Contact Sumter Aquatics Center Director and AHA instructor Grayce Howard with any questions at ghoward@sumtersc.gov. Use the following links to register for one of our upcoming trainings:
March 16 at Birnie HOPE Center: https://forms.office.com/g/uPxSpfgPb3
March 23 at South HOPE Center: https://forms.office.com/g/rYhLWB4Ri0
Sumter residents are invited to attend a Community Civic Engagement Meeting hosted by HYPE (Helping Youth Pursue Excellence) After School Programs on Monday, March 16, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the South HOPE Center, 1125 S. Lafayette Blvd., Sumter. Local representatives from the city, county, and Sumter School Board will be present to provide updates on current initiatives and upcoming decisions affecting the community. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from elected officials and gain a clearer understanding of how local government actions impact daily life in Sumter. HYPE is committed to keeping families informed and encouraging civic participation. As a long-standing after school program serving hundreds of children, HYPE believes that engaged families strengthen communities. The meeting is open to the public. All residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion. For more information, contact the M.H. Newton Family Life Enrichment Center through its website at www.mhnlifecenter.org/contact-mhn-life-center.php.
The Columbia VA Regional Office will host a Veteran Experience Action Center (VEAC) 1-on-1 Claims Clinic from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21, at the South Carolina National Guard Armory, 1328 Old Dairy Road, in Columbia. This three-day event will provide veterans, caregivers and family members with personalized, one-on-one assistance and access to multiple VA and community resources in one convenient location.
Dr. James Munford and Knowledge for College partner with the Bishopville-Manning-Shaw Air Force Base Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and provide groceries to families in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties. Distributions are held on the third Saturday of each month at Bible Outreach Ministries Church of God in Christ, which is at 1010 N. Guignard Drive, Sumter. There are no income requirements. However, all participants must complete a one-time registration process in order to receive groceries. The registration process takes approximately five minutes and can be accomplished over the phone. The next food distribution will be held on Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to noon. This organization also accepts monetary and food donations, which are tax-deductible. For more information, or to register, call (839) 333-2382.
USC Sumter will hold the 2026 Graduation, Transfer and Career Fair on Wednesday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Nettles Gymnasium. This event is designed to help students explore their next steps after completing their associate and bachelor's degrees - whether that involves transferring to a four-year institution or entering the workforce. Caps and gowns will be sold for $60 that day only, there will be free headshots from 1 to 3 p.m., refreshments, raffle, more than 20 businesses and four-year colleges in attendance and 15% off all items in the bookstore. Graduates are encouraged to attend the event. Attendees should park in the student parking area adjacent to the Nettles and Schwartz buildings off University Drive.