On Saturday,December 20, 2008, Burchfield Group members (Judy Carlton, Jerry Blackburn, Bob Ramsey, Kathy and Rand Burchfield) of Topsail Island and SeaCoast Realty were at the Food Lion in Hampstead. We collected 1029 pounds (that’s one thousand and twenty nine pounds) of food for the North Carolina Food Bank. The food pantries in four counties - Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender and Onslow will be the recipients of the overwhelming generosity of the residents of Hampstead and the Food Lion store.

95% of the people who took one of our flyers and went into the Food Lion came out with one item, and in most cases several bags of groceries and often, a full grocery cart. Cash, as little as one dollar and as much as $20.00 was donated, so that we also gave the Food Bank $ 135.00 in cash and checks. The kindness of the people of Hampstead was astounding!

Team member Judy Carlton coordinated with the Food Bank and spearheaded the effort, Kathy Alexander did yeoman’s work on the PR and all of us worked with them both to be sure that they had all the information they needed. We have a terrific banner that we will be able to use whenever we do the “Feed the Need” Food Drive again.

What a fantastic day we all had! We delivered the pallets of food to the Food Bank of NC this morning and the director, Mike was amazed that we had collected so much food in such a short time. He said that it was a professional effort and we should be very pleased. We are, of course, but we are more pleased that so many families will have food on their tables and in their cupboards this month.

We participated in the 53rd annual holiday parade in Jacksonville, N.C. on Saturday, November 22nd. The weather was COLD! The temperature when we left our office in Surf City on Topsail Island was a crisp 25 degrees! Now, we know that for some of you, that may be shorts and T shirt weather but here on Topsail, those temperatures are out of the ordinary for November. Our new office in Jacksonville opened last week and our colleagues there built a float for the parade, which WON Best in the Amateur Division! Pete Barber entered his Cobra and we, the Rand Burchfield Real Estate Group, put the moving truck to good use, as well. This time, Kathy drove (thank goodness, only required to do so in a straight line), Judy Carlton, Linda Blackburn and our Bichons, Pearl and Lilly rode along. Bob Ramsey and I walked in front, so we had a good representation. The parade was huge!!

After the parade, we toured the office at 2445 Onslow in Jacksonville and talked with some of the agents being based there. Then, off to lunch! If you are looking for "home style" cooking and you are in Jacksonville, turn left or right onto Onslow Drive (wave at our newest office, or stop in and say hi) and go two blocks. You cannot miss the big letters on the front of the building that say "HILDA'S". If you are there on a Saturday or Sunday, ask for Arlene to be your wait person. The food is great and the atmosphere, comfortable.

We have been graciously welcomed to Jacksonville by the community and look forward to a long and happy association.

Thanks, Jacksonville for a great holiday parade experience!

 Pictured presenting the check are, from left to right: Linda Blackburn, the THS representative, Kathy C. Burchfield. Second row, Rand Burchfield and Bob Ramsey. Not pictured are Judy Carlton and Bill Hunt.