The Bluffton Eccentric was the first and only newspaper the town of Bluffton has had in fifty years. We felt such a kinship with them that we asked Graham Bullock, publisher of The Bluffton Eccentric, if we could resurrect articles from previous issues and republish them. Graham graciously gave his permission and loaned us volumes of old papers. It has been a treat for me to read them and it is with great honor that I get to share them with everyone again. So, kick back, relax and get ready for a blast from the past.

Food For Thought

August 18, 1988, By Jeannie Bunton

Scout Troop 241 comes through for Pam Iams

henever, whatever the crisis, Blufftonians have always risen to the occasion. You always come through. Generously.

This community has accomplished feats that baffle the mind. Then there is this, the drive to raise enough money to grant a wish, fill a need, done in the name of friendship. The community effort got off to a wonderful commencement when Hospice, an agency of the United Way, produced the first offering. This was the first efforts toward reaching the four thousand dollars needed to send Pam Iams and her son back to London, Ohio. Then Saturday evening at their Pam Iams spaghetti supper, Boy Scouts Troop 241, of which Sean is a member, sold over 150 dinners and raised $1842 which has been given to Iams for medical and living expenses. Previously, the Scouts awarded Iams a check for two hundred dollars.

Eagle scout candidate Charles Schleich, a 17 year-old senior at Hilton Head High School, coordinated the dinner held at The Church of the Cross on historic Calhoun Street.

This speaks volumes for the 42 Scouts of Troops 241 and its leaders. It speaks volumes for the community spirit, human nature and the will to survive.

Those dinner tickets may just turn into airplane tickets.

One of the dinner tickets purchased by Palmetto State bank was the winning number for the one hundred dollar raffle. Bank President, Monty Laffitte declined acceptance and returned the gift to the fund.

Resident artist, Peggy Burnett, donated one of her pastel paintings, “Marsh Reeds and Reflections” for a silent auction to benefit Iams.

Pam attended the dinner. She talked with people she‘s never met Pam’s physician Dr. Jane Gelsen and her family were there, also. In the end, the scout parents counted up the money and presented Pam a check. She was moved to tears.

Donations came from the Crazy Crab on Hilton Head, Fludd’s Exxon in Beaufort and George H. Scott Meats provided a discount on all the ingredients used in preparation of the meal.

241 has given Pam Iams money for medical and living expenses. They’ve given the rest of us food for thought.