White Oak of Tryon cleared $1200 to be donated to Relay for Life at their annual lunch. All food items served at the lunch were either donated by employees, White Oak residents, their family members or paid for with donations specifically for that purpose, which made all monies clear profit.
The Hot Dog/Hamburger plate lunch was held on the patio at White Oak Village where “celebrity cooks,” Tryon Mayor, Jim Wright, Polk County Councilman, Ted Owens and Champion Bar-B-Que Cooker, Chuck Britton manned the grill.  Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill, Captain Holt and Sgt. Turney dropped by for lunch as did Kathy Wright, wife of Mayor Jim Wright.  Also in attendance were a number of residents from White Oak Village apartments and Apartment Director Suzanne Keim who assisted on the serving line.
Darlene Mahler, Assistant Activities Director, created and designed this year’s official Tee-shirt.  The shirt features “The Mighty Oak” tree on a black background. The roots, tree and branches are outlined in white. Each root is entwined with an inspirational word and the same words are carried out within the lavender leaves of the tree itself.   “I am fortunate to have a God given talent for crafting and when an opportunity comes along where I can create something that will benefit others I feel very blessed,”
Mahler said.
The money raised from the lunch is in addition to $2000 raised over the past month and a half selling a variety of related hand made items, cookies and popcorn. Employees also pay $2 on Fridays to “dress down” wearing tee shirts related to the cause with their blue jeans.
The White Oak of Tryon Community, located at 70 Oak Street,consists of 101 Independent Living one and two bedroom apartments, Skilled Nursing, Short Term Rehabilitation, Benson Hall Assisted Living also providing Outpatient Rehabilitation.

– article and photos submitted by Beth Romney