Local businesses donate to Clarendon Club’s Hurricane Relief Project

Posted
The new owners of Clarendon Club, Whitney and Trey Phillips, have put together a fundraiser to help South Carolina residents affected by Hurricane Florence or the subsequent flooding. With the backing and support of several local businesses, the Clarendon Club has put together a raffle which they hope will raise a substantial sum for those in need. The Clarendon Club, tucked away in the woods on Dingle Pond Road in Summerton, was established in 1930 as a hunting club. Originally located by a wildlife refuge on what some locals call the sawdust pile, the club was owned by the Cuthbertson family. The club burned down, and the children rebuilt and owned and operated the business for many years. Eventually they sold the business to a man named Chris Carson from Daniel Island. Phillips has lived here since she was in the third grade and her husband his whole life, and when they had the opportunity to purchase the club, they jumped at the chance, putting money down in October 2017 and closing in January. “They did a lot of events there, a lot of weddings there, a lot of things right there in our neck of the woods that we had no idea about until we purchased it,” said Phillips. “There’s a lot of history there.” With her family in Marlboro County and Wilmington, North Carolina, Phillips has a deep concern for how the PeeDee area of the state has been affected by the recent hurricane. Her husband’s family owns Summerton Drugs, and he has always lived in Clarendon County. “One night over dinner, my husband and I were talking, and I said, ‘We’ve got to do something.’ But with the drugstore and the club and the children, we didn’t have time to put boots on the ground,” said Phillips. She suggested they raffle off a hunt and donate the proceeds to relief efforts. Her husband thought her idea was great, but he asked how she planned to feed everyone. Phillips began asking local restaurants to contribute, finally also posting a call on Facebook asking for people to donate to her cause. Businesses jumped on board, donating items to raffle, services to assist with the project and personal time and effort. “Jimmy Sites is a friend of ours. He has a hunting show and a social media following,” said Phillips. Sites, who owns Spiritual Outdoors Adventures, returned to the country from Saskatchewan yesterday, and he has agreed to assist the project with a social media thrust, to help the project go nationwide. The prizes have been finalized and are as follows. First prize: From January 10-12, 2019, up to four people will stay at the Clarendon Club in Summerton for two nights. They will be treated to a one-day fishing trip on Lake Marion led by Cajun SC Guide Services. They will also enjoy a one-day duck hunt on Clarendon Club Member Pond. On Thursday night, the winner will sup at Porter Jack’s Grill. Friday, Plantation Café at Wyboo will provide a continental breakfast at Clarendon Club, Wen Lily’s Café and Gift Shop will provide a packed lunch to eat while fishing, and The Lake House will provide supper. Saturday morning, Summerton Diner will provide breakfast. In addition to the stay, events and meals, the winner will receive gas cards donated by Lake Marion Insurance Agency and Jenkinson Tree Service, LLC, and a gift card to Plantation Café at Wyboo. Second Prize: $850 in cash, donated by CRW Insurance Agency and Bagnal Lawn Service, and a doTERRA membership, Introductory Trio Oils, Therrashield bug spray, Essential Basic book and diffuser, donated by Coulliette Oils. Third Prize: A one-week stay at Camp Woody for one youth camper, donated by South Carolina Waterfowl Association. Tickets cost $40 for one or $100 for three and were designed and printed by Quality Shipping and Printing, who donated the materials and work. To purchase tickets with cash or check, visit the Clarendon Club, Cajun Catfishing, Porter Jacks Grill, The Lake House, Plantation Café at Wyboo, Summerton Diner, Wen Lily’s Café & Gift Shop, Lake Marion Insurance Agency in Manning, CRW Insurance Agency in Sumter, Quality Shipping & Printing, First Citizens Bank in Summerton & Lindsey Coulliette. First Citizens Bank has donated the use of temporary merchant services to allow credit card purchasing of tickets. To purchase online with a credit card, hunt for the Clarendon Club on Facebook. Along with Sites’ advertising campaign, radio advertising has also been donated. Community Broadcasters, where Manning Mayor Pro Tem Sherry Welle works as Sr. Regional Marketing Consultant, has donated air time on 94.7 ROCK and STAR 93.7. The drawing will be held on November 17, and Phillips is hoping for a “huge positive impact” for those affected by the recent storm. “I don’t know if we’ll raise $100, $500, $1,000 or more. I don’t know. We literally have no idea,” said Phillips. At this time, Phillips has not yet chosen who will receive the money and says it will depend on how much they raise. With a lower amount, they will choose only one organization to receive the funds. With a large amount, they will likely choose multiple organizations. However, they’re taking suggestions from Facebook followers for which organizations may make the list. “I need to emphasize this is not just us at Clarendon Club. Everyone in the community pitched in,” said Phillips.