BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Employees at Duke Energy’s Brunswick Nuclear Plant will take some time this week to deliver more than 250 bikes and helmets to children in the area.

According to a press release, the bike drive supports requests from 42 schools in Brunswick, Columbus, Pender and New Hanover counties. School officials help determine the need for each school.

“We couldn’t do this without the support of Brunswick employees,” said Jimmy Blackburn, program coordinator. “The team here has made this program successful through the years with both financial support and through pick-up and delivery of the bikes and helmets to area schools.”

The bike drive started in 1997 when an employee approached another about buying a bike for a deserving child in an area school.

The bikes will be delivered to the following schools:

Sunset Park Elementary School (New Hanover County)
Monday, Dec. 17

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Cape Fear Community College has extended its pickup deadline for the Toys for Tots drive until noon on Wednesday, December 12.

The Sea Devils and the Marine Corps Reserves are teaming up to provide gifts for less fortunate children throughout Eastern North Carolina and the United States.

Donate a new, unwrapped toy to one of the following drop-off box locations:

Downtown Campus:
Student Activities/Athletic Office (L-112), S Building Lobby, A Building Lobby, Library, Business Office (G Building)

North Campus:
NA McKeithan Center Lobby, NB Applied Technologies Building Lobby

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Don't let the messy, dusty center of operations fool you - the Full Belly Project's warehouse at 11th and Chestnut Streets is full of innovative, energy saving farm tools, that have made their way on to farms around the world.

Jock Brandis, who in charge of research and development, said everyone involved is a "non-profit engineer," following the motto "you can't have prosperity without efficiency."

"A lot of the farmers in our area. Columbus and Pender County farmers are really trying to get into the' live local, grow local movement,' and you know, having local food has been a tough thing, as restaurants have closed because of it. Look at Crow Hill downtown," said Brandis.

The non-profit organization has been in operation for years and continues to pump out successful farm tools geared toward small farms only.