WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Many organizations are using the Carolina Classic Fair to raise money for special causes by coming out to supply breakfast, lunch and dinner for carnival and fair workers.
The Walkertown Girls Softball Association is one organization that set up a booth at the fair.
“We also help supply schools. Education Day is on Wednesday. And so we actually have four schools that's coming over to eat with us. So making sure we preplan for the stuff that we need,” said Leslie White, the president of the Walkertown Girls Softball Association.
They’re feeding the out-of-town carnival workers and fairground employees who are working at the Carolina Classic Fair.
“We try to give them quality food at a fair price. I mean, you know, we are here to make money for our girls and for the kids. And that's important,” White said.
The fair booth is the largest fundraiser of the year for the organization. It’s a 25-year tradition to help lower registration fees and to help the girls with other needs.
“It goes to help support the equipment that we need for those teams, the cost of field rentals or umpires, the operational expenses, all that kind of stuff has gone up,” White said.
White says running this booth is like running a small-town restaurant but with a bigger purpose.
“Rewarding. It's very hard work. It's really, really, it's a lot of work. But the reward is one. We get to meet people, one way we make a difference,” White said.
The Carolina Classic Fair is celebrating 141 years and runs through Sunday. The fair’s partner James E. Strates Shows, which provides all the rides and carnival activities, is celebrating 100 years.
It has provided family fun entertainment for the Carolina Classic Fair for 59 years and has brought more than 100 rides, carnival attractions and games and concessions.