Editor’s Note: This appeared in the “OUR VIEW” section of the September 10 edition. Don’t call it a comeback. Call it a c-o-m-e-b-a-c-k instead. Because after six years, the Lumpkin Literacy Adult Spelling Bee & Variety Show has returned. And this always entertaining fundraiser is just what it sounds like: a spelling bee with adult contestants.
This isn’t Scripps Spelling Bee though, with serious silence and polite applause.
In this bee there’s more emphasis on fun than actual spelling. (They threw in that “variety show” tag for a reason.)
Plus there’s the always entertaining spectacle of brave contestants attempting to spell without the assistance of autocorrect or spell check.
Teams of three will compete for the prize of ultimate spellers on the evening of October 7 in University of North Georgia’s Hoag Auditorium.
While admission is free, voluntary donations to the cause will be collected at the event or online at lumpkinliteracy.com.
And that cause is an important one.
For starters, Lumpkin Literacy provides the funds for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, an amazing program that seeks to deliver a monthly free book to local children from birth to 5 year-old. Every child in the county is eligible. All parents have to do is register.
That’s just the start of what Lumpkin Literacy does in our community.
There’s also free GED testing and tutoring.
There’s continued support for the Community Helping Place Well Read Well Fed program.
And they also oversee the Barbara Gail Adams Memorial Scholarship which helps detainees and at risk youth get back on their feet.
Essentially Lumpkin Literacy helps make our town a better place.
Over the next few weeks you’ll see the actual Spelling Bee popping up in the pages of The Nugget as she highlights contributors to the local cause.
It will all lead up to the big event on October 7 at 7 p.m. at the Hoag.
So make sure you get there early. Because it’s an event that’s sure to be fantastic.
And also f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c.
