Mondee Tilley/The News

Walt Broom, left, president of the United Fund of Surry, poses with Southern Community Bank Senior Vice President Jim Lewis and Vice President of Commercial Banking Steven McRae, right, as they present Beth Pequeno, the executive director of the United Fund with a check for $5,000 on Wednesday.

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In its fourth year of feeding the community lunch to raise funds for the United Fund of Surry, Southern Community Bank and an army of local business and volunteers raised $5,000.

On Aug. 28, the employees of Southern Community Bank held their annual spaghetti lunch fundraiser as part of their employee campaign with United Fund of Surry.

On Wednesday, Jim Lewis, senior vice president for Southern Community, presented Beth Pequeno, executive director of United Fund of Surry, with a check for $5000.

“This was the most we’ve ever raised with this lunch. My thanks goes to everyone who ordered one of the 680 plates, and the staff at our downtown branch and staff at our Pilot Mountain branch,” said Lewis. “A special thanks also goes to Chris Wishart and his staff at Trio Restaurant for cooking the sauce and noodles again this year. We are also grateful to the Mount Airy Meat Center for donating the meat and all the other businesses that donated items to make this fundraiser a success.”

Lewis said he hopes that Southern Community and all those who helped will be able to do it again next year.

Steven McRae, 2012-2013 campaign chairman for United Fund and commercial loan officer for Southern Community, added that they couldn’t have done it without the help of the extra volunteers who helped put plates together and made deliveries.

Pequeno said each year Southern Community acts as a pacesetter for the United Fund campaign.

“Not only do the employees give generously through payroll deduction, but hold this spaghetti lunch fundraiser for us, as well as raise money during Autumn Leaves by charging to park in their lot. They set a wonderful example as community leaders and we thank them,” said Pequeno.

Walt Broom, 2012 United Fund president, wanted to express how much he appreciated everyone’s efforts with this fundraiser.

“It’s a lot of work. We certainly want to thank them for all they do,” said Broom.

The United Fund of Surry funds 26 agencies serving youth development, the special needs population, and elderly/hospice care. These agencies provide such services as emergency medical services, delivering meals to the home bound, child abuse/neglect intervention, medical care for working poor, food for needy, and housing for low income families, etc. The United Fund of Surry also funds 2-1-1, the number to call if you are in need of services, much like 911 is for emergencies. 2-1-1 is a resource which connects callers who have needs with agencies who provide services. All the money raised by the United Fund of Surry stays locally. The United Fund of Surry is governed by a volunteer board of directors. For more Information, visit our website at www.unitedfundofsurry.org and join our page on Facebook.

Reach Mondee Tilley at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1930.