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Mars Theatre receives GCA grant
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Clovers & Co. is the Georgia State 4H show choir composed of talented singers, dancers, musicians and stagehands from the state ranging in age from 12 to 18. - photo by Submitted
Submitted report
Updated: Dec 6, 2017, 9:16 PM
Published: Dec 6, 2017, 9:19 PM

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, awarded $300,000 in funding grants to 84 organizations in 64 counties across the state.

Each of these Vibrant Communities grants will support arts programs that contribute in substantial ways to the local communities’ development.

Recipients of the grants were chosen from 123 applications submitted by libraries, schools, arts centers, cities, historical societies, Boys and Girls Clubs and community theatres. GCA appointed a peer review panel to determine which organizations received funding.

The Mars Theatre in Springfield will receive $2,000.

“We are extremely excited to receive this grant”, said Mars Theatre director, Allison Newberry. “This money will allow us to continue bringing quality family entertainment to the people of Effingham and surrounding counties.”

The March 24, 2018, show, Clovers & Co. is an example of how the Mars Theatre is bringing performing arts to the area in a fun and exciting way. Tickets cost $10 and are on sale now either online at www.marstheatre.com or by calling the box office at 912-754-1118.

Clovers & Co. is the Georgia State 4H show choir composed of talented singers, dancers, musicians and stagehands from the state ranging in age from 12 to 18.

Interested 4-H'ers from throughout the state audition yearly for the limited number of spots in the show. Several graduates have gone on to careers in the music and entertainment fields on the national level such as Jennifer Nettles of country group Sugarland and Effingham County’s own Hannah Dasher.

The show is primarily directed by volunteers, giving many hours to assure that all can be proud of the production.

Clovers & Co. was founded in 1981 to provide an opportunity for 4-H youth to promote and share with others, the excitement, leadership and talent evident in 4-H. They continue to serve as key entertainment at state and national conferences for groups such including the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Georgia Farm Bureau, Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Georgia High School Student Council Conference and many others throughout the south.

About Georgia Council of Arts

Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) is a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development whose mission is to cultivate the growth of vibrant, thriving Georgia communities through the arts. GCA provides grant funding, programs and services statewide that support the vital arts industry, preserve the state’s cultural heritage, increase tourism and nurture strong communities. Funding for Georgia Council for the Arts is provided by appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Effingham Donates 6,900 Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child
Cohen Busbee packs a shoebox with toys, school supplies and personal care items for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)
Updated: Nov 26, 2025, 7:11 PM
Published: Nov 25, 2025, 2:28 PM

RINCON, Ga. — Effingham County’s generosity will soon be felt across the globe. Local churches, civic groups and residents combined to donate 6,900 gift-filled shoeboxes this year for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers presents — along with a message of Christian faith — to children in need around the world.

Volunteers fuel  participation

Among those helping lead the effort are Pat and James McElveen, who serve as project leaders for First Baptist Church of Rincon. The couple collects items for their church year-round, coordinates volunteers and helps involve people of all ages in the packing process, including seniors, Bible school groups and individuals from the Low Country Down Syndrome Society.

Operation Christmas Child, operated by the Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, aims to share the Gospel while providing what may be a child’s first gift. Each shoebox contains a “WOW” item, along with other small toys, personal care items, school supplies and clothing. Last year, the organization delivered nearly 12 million shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

Operation Christmas Child
James and Pat McElveen (back row) stand with Cohen (left) and Asa Busbee in a room where shoeboxes have been packed for Operation Christmas Child. (Submitted photo)

Churches, civic groups and residents all contribute

This year’s local total includes contributions from churches across the county — including First Baptist Rincon (5,100 shoeboxes) and Springfield Oaks (1,800 shoeboxes), which also serves as a drop-off site — along with Boy Scouts, high school groups and individual residents who pack boxes throughout the year. Pat said the wide community involvement is what makes the effort meaningful.

All 6,900 local boxes were delivered this week to Metter, where they will be transported to Atlanta for processing before being shipped around the world. Because many deliveries travel into remote regions, not every gift arrives by Christmas, and distributions continue throughout the year.

Once the shoeboxes reach their final destinations, each child receives both the gifts and a booklet explaining the Christian message in their language. For the McElveens and FBC Rincon, that message is at the heart of the project. ”It’s all about Jesus!”

With another successful collection completed, the McElveens say they are already preparing for next year and looking forward to the thousands of children who will once again open a shoebox packed by caring hands in Effingham County.