• Vietnam vets to be honored March 29

March 29 has been set aside as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The day will be a chance to honor all Vietnam veterans and a moment to say welcome home and thank you for your service. As Vietnam veterans came home, most were not shown the respect and honor that other veterans from other eras before and after received. Vietnam veterans are America’s greatest population of veterans, who suffered in war and are still fighting the battles of cancers and other diseases caused by Agent Orange today.

• Library system to sponsor contest

April is national poetry month. Celebrate by entering the Pickens County Library System’s 10th annual poetry contest sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Those interested may submit an original poem between now and March 31 at any library location or electronically to maryb@pcls.fyi. Winners from each age category will receive a cash prize. Categories are as follows: Youth — up to age 11; Teen — ages 12-18; Adult — ages 19 and up. For official rules, visit pcls.fyi. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25.

• Samaritan Health dance postponed

For the safety of all, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Samaritan Health is postponing and more likely canceling this year’s barn dance fundraiser. As you can imagine, Samaritan Health services are expected to be in immense demand over the next several months with many people now being out of work. Samaritan Health resources will be extremely taxed to support this influx in patients, and the barn dance is a very large portion of the organization’s funding for the year.

Samaritan Health officials ask residents to find it in their hearts to consider a donation to help the organization through this difficult time. Potential donors can visit the Tickets and Sponsorship tab at SamaritanSoiree.com and select a donation option.

If Samaritan Health is able to move forward with the dance, the organization will apply all funding and ticket purchases to the event and notify donors of the new date.

• Liberty to host BBQ and Jeep Festival

Liberty Festivals and Events and the city of Liberty are pleased to announce the upcoming Liberty BBQ and Jeep Fest, to be held Saturday, May 9 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in downtown Liberty.

This year’s festival will offer a wide variety of activities for the whole family: arts, crafts, children activities, displays from nonprofit organizations, food, music and entertainment.

A Jeep cruise-in will be held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The BBQ competition that runs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. is a Certified South Carolina Barbecue Association-sanctioned event.

The main stage will feature Hot as a Pepper shortly after 11 a.m., followed by Split Shot shortly after 3 p.m. Liberty’s festivals have been very successful, with 100-plus vendors and more than 3,000 in attendance. Sponsors and vendors are still being accepted. Find out more information at libertyscevents.com.

• WPO offers chance at monthly fellowship

The Widowed Persons Organization (WPO) organization is not a grief therapy group, but it does provide an opportunity for widowed persons to come together, make new friends and share conversation and food while finding a new beginning in life. The group meets on the second Saturday of every month at 1 p.m. in the fellowship building of Lakeview Baptist Church on Mauldin Lake Road in Pickens. For more information, call (864) 850-1987 or (864) 878-6215.

• Volunteers needed to paint Hope Globes

The Hope Globe is an Upstate South Carolina charity that was created to provide emotional support for children at Prisma and other hospitals of the Upstate. The charity is currently looking for volunteers to paint globes and raise awareness, and the group is also asking for donations of any kind — furniture, appliances, cars, etc. — for its online thrift store. To find out more about the charity, visit thehopeglobe.com or contact the group at thehopeglobe@gmail.com or (864) 247-0702.

• Beginner sewing lessons offered

The women’s department of the Church of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God is offering beginner sewing lessons on the third Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. All supplies are furnished. For information, call Donna Anderson at (864) 420-9489.