After a 15-year run, the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is discontinuing the mass mailing of the RecConnect, the biannual program guide to town residents in the 27587 zip code. Beginning in February 2021, a limited number of RecConnect copies will be printed and available for pickup at Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and PRCR facilities, such as Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road, Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St., and Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 S. Taylor St. In anticipation of this change, residents accustomed to receiving the program guide in the mail are encouraged to sign up to receive RecConnect via email at www.wakeforestnc.gov/communications/e-notifier. The publication will continue to be available to view/download online at https://bit.ly/WFRecconnect. Although printed editions of RecConnect will no longer arrive in mailboxes, the same high-quality content will continue to be included in each issue. Published twice a year, RecConnect provides complete information

During the week of December 14, sweeten up your holiday season with our “Great Gingerbread House Showcase!” Grab the candy canes, pour some hot chocolate, and get the family together to build your dream holiday house. Build a house together or make it competitive and each decorate your own gingerbread house. Then share pictures of your holiday creations with us using the online form on our website at https://bit.ly/Gingerbreadhouseshowcase. Throughout the week, we’ll post on the Town of Wake Forest Facebook page the pictures we’ve received and upload them to our online photo gallery. We also invite you to post your pictures on social media and use the hashtag #ChristmasinWakeForest. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/Gingerbreadhouseshowcase.

Several local churches and community organizations will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a virtual livestream program on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m. Area residents are invited to watch the livestream on the Friendship Chapel Baptist Church Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FCBCWF. The evening’s theme will center around one of Dr. King’s messages: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” In the spirit of the event theme, the Wake Forest MLK Committee is offering creative performance, writing and art competitions for students in Wake Forest and Rolesville-area schools. Complete contest rules and information, along with the online contest entry form is available at http://bit.ly/WFMLKCelebration. The competition winners will be recognized during the January 21 program. Due to COVID-19, only the contest winners and their parents will be permitted to attend. Local groups contributing to the celebration include the Wake Forest Human Relations Council, Friendship Chapel Baptist

This year, with the pandemic and an economy better for those who have but bitter for those who have the least, please donate what you can to local food banks and care groups. There are national and local charities and charitable drives, but this year, please make it local dollars for local people. Remember, hunger still stalks through Wake Forest and North Carolina. Facts About Hunger in North Carolina According to NC Assoc. of Feeding America Food Banks (ncfoodbanks.org) ** NC is in the TOP 10 for the highest percentage of HUNGRY citizens. ** 1 in 4 children in NC are “food insecure” or hungry. ** The average food assistance (Food Stamps) is $4.40 per person per day – so a family of 4 gets $123 a week and a single person gets $31 a week. ** 81% of NC households receiving food stamps don’t know where or when their

Wake Forest is a community that cares. As consistently as sunrise, our citizens contribute their time, talents and resources to help neighbors in need or support worthwhile causes that make a lasting difference. In recognition of this wonderful legacy, the Town of Wake Forest is excited to launch “Wake Forest Cares.” Moving forward, all Town-sponsored programs and events designed to help a neighbor or address a community need will be highlighted as a “Wake Forest Cares” initiative. A few examples include the Wake Forest Police Department’s Turkey Drive and Shop with a Cop, the Town’s Adopt-A-Stream and Adopt-A-Trail initiatives, and Wake Forest Power’s H.O.P.E. program – just to name a few. An equally important part of “Wake Forest Cares” is an annual donation drive to raise funds for select community non-profits. For our inaugural Wake Forest Cares Holiday Donation Drive, area residents and businesses are invited to contribute online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-cares to one