In celebration of Pilot International’s motto Do More Care More Be More; the Evening Pilot Club of Sumter will create a year round project of Making a  Difference.  During the year our club will raise public awareness about Pilot International efforts while providing respite to individuals and by supporting specific groups of caregivers for their meaningful deeds.  Each month a specific group of caregivers will be chosen by our club to be supported or recognized.  All activities will be documented to include description of Pick Me Up, recipient, date, feedback and photographs in our Making a Difference 2019-2020 scrapbook.

In October, members began distributing 100 Pilot Pals to the coroner’s office, Department of Social Services Protective Services, and YWCA women’s shelter.  The teddy bears have bibs which state Pilot Pal Cares for You, compliments of the Evening Pilot Club of Sumter.  Each bear has a red heart under their bib. The purpose of the bears is to help comfort children who are separated from a parent or undergo traumatic experiences such as fire, separation and death. Children are seriously psychologically harmed when they are separated from their parents or experience trauma. By comforting and providing empathy during time of stress, children were more disposed to develop coping skills.  The organizations receiving the bears will have open invitation to request additional bears during the year, thus Making a Difference to the children.

We believe children who are separated from the family experience loss and often need a little something to help them cope.  If it is successful, we hope to continue annually and make this our clubs signature project!

Learn more about the Evening Pilot Club of Sumter by visiting their Official Facebook page below:
https://www.facebook.com/Evening-Pilot-Club-of-Sumter-455557564587172/

Learn how you can make a difference by visiting:
https://www.pilotinternational.org/becomeapilot/