The Craig County Field of Dreams will be joining the Annual Roanoke Valley Gives Program in hopes to raise funds to complete a new project that it is pursuing for area children to use.
Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
Whoever thinks that small towns only provide small things do not know the heart of Craig County citizens.
Our high school students have received awards and beat out college competition, one teacher was nominated for a Presidential award, other teachers have received honors, including being awarded at state functions. In addition to that, many students continue to receive high honors in college while others start their own businesses with encouragement from the community. Local citizens work diligently to help serve the New Castle area with clothes, food and other needs.
By continuing to reach for the best for Craig County kids to have and accomplishing dreams they set forth and pursuing new projects, the Field of Dreams follow the path of that vision.
The upcoming Annual Roanoke Valley Gives Project helps them to do just that.
On March 10, the Community Foundation serving Western Virginia is sponsoring the Sixth Annual Fundraiser, Roanoke Valley Gives.
“It is a 24-hour online event to raise money for area non-profit organizations, including Craig County Recreation and Conservation Association’s Field of Dreams,” said Debbie Snead. “Supporters are invited to ‘give where you live.’”
Reported Snead for the committee, “CCR&CA recently completed several infrastructure projects for the Field, including electricity with assistance from Craig Botetourt Electric Cooperative; a well for watering the fields with labor donated by Billy Horn; and a detailed water project with the help of BJ and Grant Oliver to get fresh water from the PSA into the field.”
They are happy to add that federal funding from the Child Care and Development Block Grant has provided funds for them “to construct a learning lab for school age children to expand and maintain capacity to increase access to safe learning spaces for school age children from Pre-k through 12.”
The Learning Lab will be located at the Craig Field of Dreams Complex and will be available for sports and community activities when the lab is not in use.
“Thus, with the water project complete we’re in need of a septic system to complete the infrastructure and for the potential building,” Snead said. “The Block Grant will fund construction of the Learning Lab and contribute to developing a septic system.”
Therefore, they are seeking community partners to match the grant to help fund the cost of executing the system.
“If a Secondary Treatment System is required as was indicated in an earlier permit, due to the size of the complex, extra tanks, lines and pumping station, the additional cost could be as much between $30,000 and $35,000,” she said before adding, “The Roanoke Valley Gives (RVG) event can help raise the funds needed to pay for the septic system, if people will contribute.”
Donations made on the web page are tax-deductible and go directly to the Craig Field of Dreams.
“Your support will ensure that our children have a place to experience the joy of playing sports and being part of a team,” she said. “We need you to be part of our team. Please forward this message to family, friends, groups and social media to multiply our numbers.”
To donate, visit Craig Field of Dreams at https://www.rvgives.org/organizations/craig-county-recreation-and-conservation-association-inc. “We appreciate your support,” expressed the entire committee.
