By Staff
You can talk about crime and shake your head, or you can do something about it.
Bobby Gene McCabe of Blounts Creek falls into the second category.
McCabe is helping organize an event today in Aurora designed to make area communities safer and improve the lives of residents. It’s a tall order. But clearly, if people do nothing, nothing will change.
With the help of area churches, religious leaders and local law-enforcement officers, McCabe organized a neighborhood intervention for his own community and the communities of Aurora and Edward.
Today’s event will be at the Aurora Community Center from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. There will be a pig pickin’, fish and other food while supplies last. Officials with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the Aurora Police Department are scheduled to attend.
Getting illegal guns off the street is just one of the goals of the program. There will be no questions asked. Educating the public on what options they have is just as important.
Individuals can also sign up for General Educational Development — GED — classes at the event, which are provided free through area churches, McCabe said.
He is also realistic enough to know that it will be up to individuals to step up and take advantage of the opportunities they have available.
McCabe has made previous attempts to offer assistance for those in his own neighborhood. “I go out to the families in the neighborhood where I know somebody is on drugs, and try to get them into a drug program,” he said.
McCabe said he hopes this event will encourage others to seek help. “If they are willing to go, we will help them through it,” he said.
Residents with substance-abuse problems are asked to “come by and give your name for a drug-treatment program,” he said.
Residents like McCabe can’t force people to change their ways, but they can offer options. And that is part of what today’s event is all about.