The Mount Olive Exchange presented a $250 donation to All the King’s Children Tuesday night, July 15, during its annual officers installation social at Ribeyes Steakhouse. Front row, left to right, are All the King’s Children board members Michelle Holland and Robin Smith (vice chair); founder Marcia Whitley; and club members Belinda Parent, Brittany Parent and Hazel and Steve Wiggins. Back row, left to right, are club members Dwayne McKay, James Kornegay, Gary Barefoot, Bryant Gibson, Susan Price and Lynwood Herring. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
The Mount Olive Exchange presented a $1,000 donation to the Mount Olive Children’s Advocacy Center Tuesday night, July 15, during its annual officers installation social at Ribeyes Steakhouse. Front row, left to right, are club members Belinda Parent and Amberley Martin, Bryant Gibson, center coordinator and club member, Brittany Parent and Hazel and Steve Wiggins. Back row, left to right, are club members Dwayne McKay, James Kornegay, Gary Barefoot, Susan Price and Lynwood Herring. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
The Mount Olive Exchange Club held its annual officer installation social Tuesday night, July 15, at Ribeyes Steakhouse. Sean McGuire, N.C. Exchange president, inducted the new officers for 2025-2026. Left to right are, Dwayne McKay, president; James Kornegay, board member; Amberley Martin; Gary Barefoot; Belinda Parent, immediate past president; Susan Price, secretary; Brittany Parent (who also is vice president of communications for the N.C. District); Bryant Gibson; Hazel Wiggins, board member, Lynwood Herring, treasurer, and Steve Wiggins, board member. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
The Mount Olive Exchange presented a $250 donation to the Mount Olive Friends of the Parks Tuesday night, July 15, during its annual officers installation social at Ribeyes Steakhouse. Front row, left to right, are club members Amberley Martin (who also is a member of Friends of the Parks) and Belinda Parent; Josh Phillips, Mount Olive Parks and Recreation director; and club members Hazel and Steve Wiggins. Back row, left to right, are club members Dwayne McKay, James Kornegay and Gary Barefoot; Tony Martin, Friends of the Parks president; and club members Susan Price, Brittany Parent, Bryant Gibson, and Lynwood Herring. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
The Mount Olive Exchange presented a $250 donation to Life Line Sampson Tuesday night, July 15, during its annual officers installation social at Ribeyes Steakhouse. Front row, left to right, are Carrie Green, Life Line board member, Celey Cumbo, executive director; and club members Amberley Martin, Belinda Parent, Brittany Parent and Hazel and Steve Wiggins. Back row, left to right, are club members Dwayne McKay, James Kornegay, Gary Barefoot, Susan Price, Bryant Gibson, and Lynwood Herring. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)
The Mount Olive Exchange Club installed new officers Tuesday night, July 15, also using the occasion to continue its support of the community by making donations to several nonprofits.
Donations were made to All the King’s Children, Mount Olive Children’s Advocacy Center, Mount Olive Friends of the Parks and Life Line Sampson
“This is just a few of the organizations that we are very blessed to be able to give to at the end of our Exchange year,” said Belinda Parent, outgoing president. “We do this event now because of our big Fourth of July event. We try not to put anything just before that …. so that we can focus on what we can do for the community.”
In giving a history of the Exchange Club, Steve Wiggins said the organization has four areas of impact — the No. 1 effort being the prevention of child abuse.
That has been the national organization’s project since 1979, he added. Locally, the club partners with the Mount Olive Children’s Advocacy Center.
Another area is Americanism to promote pride in the U.S. while celebrating veterans and the country’s heritage, he said.
Under Parent’s leadership for the past two years the club has sponsored a Field of Heroes, he added. The club also supports the local VFW and American Legion posts.
The club also supports community service and youth programs.
“I just want to say this, we are put here on this earth to make a difference,” Wiggins said. “We are the Exchange Club, and we are here to help you help others. So, come join us.”
Parent reiterated Wiggins’ comments and provided a brief overview of the club’s many projects including the Field of Heroes and sponsoring the Fourth of July celebration in Westbrook Park.
Sean McGuire, N.C. Exchange president, inducted the new officers for 2025-2026.
“You guys are obviously doing the right things,” McGuire, a member of the Hillsborough club, said of the club. “Again we’re small clubs, but we can do big things in our towns. I appreciate the honor of being asked to recognize the new officers and directors of the Exchange Club of Mount Olive.
“The call to leadership in any service organization is not only an honor, but a challenge. The future of this Exchange Club is being entrusted to your care. You are being given the opportunity and responsibility to take an active leadership role in building a better community, state and nation.”
The officers are Dwayne McKay, president; Parent, immediate past president; Susan Price, secretary; and Lynwood Herring, treasurer.
At the moment there is no president-elect, McKay said.
The new directors are Bobby Herring, Hazel Wiggins, Steve Wiggins and James Kornegay.
McGuire said the board’s job is to coordinate the club’s affairs, determine policies and ensure the club is providing appropriate and necessary services to the community and its membership.
“As officers of the Exchange Club you will play a significant role in the necessary leadership, skills and guidance which your club will need,” McGuire said.
