ELIZABETHTOWN — Dozens of Bladen County individuals were arrested last week, resulting in a constant flow of money straight into local coffers.
Business owners, elected officials, education workers, and even law enforcement officers participated in the 10th annual Jail-A-Thon, an effort to raise money for education in the Mother County. The event is put on each year by the Bladen County Education Foundation.
“It went very well,” said David Wall, Elizabethtown attorney who serves as “judge” for the event. “The community is always very good to us, and we really appreciate all the public support we get.”
Though the total has not yet been tallied, donations came pouring in throughout the day as volunteers who were arrested appeared before Judge Wall on trumped-up charges and paid to affect their release. Charges ranged from bribery and selling stolen goods to writing bad checks.
In addition to money raised through the “fines,” other promised donations are still coming in.
Last year was the Jail-A-Thon’s most successful year to date, raising upwards of $7,000. Wall earlier said he hoped this year’s donations would surpass last year’s.
Taking place at the Board of Education meeting room, the event is possible through the cooperation of numerous organizations.
“We really appreciate the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and the Elizabethtown Police Department and the White Lake Police Department,” Wall said, “and, of course, we couldn’t do it without the Board of Education and the school system allowing us to use their public meeting room.”
Proceeds from the event benefit Bladen County public schools and are used at their discretion for their most pressing needs, according to Wall.
The Bladen County Educational Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit corporation that was founded in the late 2005 by Wall, Gary Grady and Dr. Margaret Lawrence. The Foundation was formed to help provide the students and educators who attend and work in the public school system of Bladen County with additional monies and material support to enrich their educational and teaching experiences.
Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163 or emailing ccarroll@bladenjournal.com.