SOUTH RIVER GRANT WILL HELP METH TASK FORCE EFFORTS TO STAMP OUT DRUG USE

Since late 2003, the Sampson County Meth Task Force, Inc. has been
working to confront the methamphetamine crisis head-on, providing
intervention opportunities designed to prevent or break the cycle of
drug abuse caused by those who manufacture, sell or use the highly
addictive drug.

The group, that got its initial start with a $500 donation from Star
Telephone Membership Corporation, Inc., has grown over the years and
has been able to meet the needs of those who suffer from the disease
and train those who can help with treatment and recovery.

Thanks to a recent grant from South River EMC, the Sampson County Meth
Task Force, Inc. will be able to continue to help save those lives.

Catherine O'Dell, manager of member and public affairs for South
River, presented the group with a $5,000 grant at last week's meeting.

"We just thank you, South River, and the members," said Meth Task
Force chairman J.W. Simmons. "As you know, this thing called
methamphetamine continues to grow in our county. It not only continues
to be a menace to us, but it is part of a larger issue of addiction
. We are really making a huge push to do the process right and that
process starts with not even doing it (meth) once. That is the message
we are trying to get out. If we can get it out, I think we can take a
major step in saving not only lives, but we also hope that it will
save some tax dollars in the long run."

The grant came from South River's Community Assistance Corporation, a
charitable foundation of the company that has recently awarded over
$39,000 in grants to the community through the Operation Round Up
program. In the past year, the Community Assistance Program has
awarded over $173,000 in grants to organizations and families in the
area.

But in actuality, it all comes from South River's members.

Through Operation Round Up, South River EMC members agree to have
their bill "rounded up" to the next dollar each month. If their bill
is $96.87, the remaining 13 cents will be put into an account managed
by the Community Assistance Corporation. Currently, over 77 percent of
the Cooperative's members are helping change the lives of their
neighbors, friends and fellow-cooperative members through this program.

"Small change makes a big change," said O'Dell.

The funds are then given to organizations that are serving the health,
safety, educational or historical needs of the community or to
families who have fallen on unusually tough times.

"All applications are reviewed by a board," said O'Dell. "They looked
at this application and realized that meth addiction is having a
profound impact on our community from children to adults. The work
already done by the Meth Task Force has just been phenomenal, and if
there was anything that we could do to help them increase the
awareness, they wanted to do it."

O'Dell said that she was proud to be part of the presentation.

"We started Operation Round Up because South River wants to give our
members an avenue to contribute to the well-being of their community
- -- that is exactly what this program does," she said. "We believe in
the community. This is where we live, this is where we work, so it is
our responsibility to make sure our community remains healthy."

"In these times, when the economy is tightened and you see a lot of
corporations pulling back their support, it only compounds the
problem. South River is making every effort not to do that because we
don't want to make the already difficult times more difficult. We will
continue our support of programs like this in the community."

Officials from the group's other major sponsor, Star Telephone,
agree.

"I think that the Meth Task Force is a very vital asset to the
community," said Jeff Shipp, community relations manager for Star
Telephone, who also serves on the group's board. "I think that getting
this grant is great, and it is a testament to what the group has been
doing in this community."

Shipp said the grant is a great way to help the group help others in
need.

"It is really important to try and fight the problems associated with
meth addiction," said Shipp. "I am happy to see the Meth Task Force
get this grant and it is going to go a long way in helping to start to
work as a conduit between addiction, the rehabilitation and the
judicial system. I am just proud to be part of the group because it is
a tremendous asset to the community."

The Meth Task Force will meet again in the Harrells community on Sept.
15.

For more information on the group, click on to methdeath.org.