Tom Dimmock and the volunteers and “beautiful” firemen raised somewhere between $8,000 and $9,000 Friday night during the first major fundraising event for the new Teacher’s Supply Closet – but the work is just beginning.
          This weekend Tom and the crew – and as many volunteers as they can find – will be at the Wake Forest Wal-Mart on South Main Street during the tax-free weekend, collecting school supplies and monetary donations at both doors from 4 p.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Sunday.
          The volunteers will have flyers to tell shoppers about the supply closet, the need for it, and what items are particularly needed by local elementary school teachers. They hope to fill a large trailer with all the collected goods by the end of the weekend.
          Although the Wake Forest Kiwanis Club members are pitching in along with people from the other civic groups who joined for the Womanless Beauty Pageant Friday night – Crossroads Entertainment was filled and the joint was jumping – they do need others to help at the Wal-Mart doors. Call Tom at 622-5401 if you can do a two-hour stint Friday between 4 and 8 p.m., Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. You can also reach him at tjdimmock@gmail.com.

          If you cannot volunteer, then stop by Wal-Mart this weekend to drop off your donations.
          The Teacher’s Supply Closet organizers hope to provide classroom supplies for teachers in the Wake Forest and Youngsville area elementary schools. They are working with principals, teachers, PTAs and local civic groups.