Cary Spotlight | Issue #543

The Mama Edna Project, Cary’s Children’s Day Festival, Wake County Nonprofit Helps Thousands

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

🧭 Discover Cary: The Mama Edna Project

📰 Cary’s Children’s Day Festival Honors Diversity and the Next Generation

📰 Wake County Nonprofit Helps Thousands Turn Empty Rooms Into Homes

📰 Young CEO from Wake County Cleans Oceans, One Swimsuit at a Time

😀 Meme of the Day

❤️ Thank You, Debbie!

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

📅 Lots Of Events This Week (The Week at a Glance)

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Question: What job requires people to sniff armpits?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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The Mama Edna Project

Summary

In this inspiring episode of Cary Spotlight Connect, host Dr. Chris Coetzer sits down with Cary local Drew Klutz, who recently left a 42-year career in retail to launch a nonprofit with heart: The Mama Edna Project. Named in honor of his late mother-in-law—known for her generosity—the project runs a men’s-focused thrift shop where vintage finds, kitchen goods, furniture, and more are sold to help fight hunger in the Triangle.

Drew shares how this new thrift shop is different from others. While not a food pantry itself, the Mama Edna Project acts as a cash-flow partner to organizations like Dorcas Ministries, Feed Well Fridges, and the Food Bank of Eastern & Central NC. Each sale made at the shop funds meals and grocery support via these trusted partners.

If you’ve got gently used goods—or just want to shop with a purpose—this episode will show how your home items can help stock community fridges, support school food programs, and build a more food-secure Cary.

Keywords: Cary Spotlight, nonprofit, community service, thrift shop, food security, Cary North Carolina, Mama Edna Project, charity, partnerships, local impact, donations

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • The mission behind the Mama Edna Project and how it honors one woman’s legacy of giving

  • How the thrift shop model is helping fund local hunger relief efforts

  • Why Drew focuses on men’s clothing, furniture, tools, and small home appliances

  • The powerful network of nonprofit partnerships they’ve built—and how you’re part of the solution

  • How YOU can donate, shop, or spread the word during Earth Month and beyond

Credit: The Mama Edna Project

Got gently used furniture, tools, or kitchen gadgets? Instead of tossing them out, donate them to the Mama Edna Project and turn your pre-loved goods into meals for neighbors in need. Want to shop instead? Every purchase supports local hunger relief programs.

Mama Edna’s Thrift Shop

📍 1393 Maynard Rd SE Cary, NC 27511 | ☎ 919- 649-0678
🌐 The Mama Edna Project | Facebook Page

We’d love to hear from you! Let us know how aware you are of the Mama Edna Project, a Cary-based nonprofit thrift shop that funds food security programs across the Triangle:

How Familiar Are You with The Mama Edna Project?

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Cary’s Children’s Day Festival Honors Diversity and the Next Generation

Credit: Downtown Cary Park

The Children’s Day Festival returns to Cary this Saturday, April 19, for a celebration that places children at the heart of community and culture. Hosted by the American Turkish Association of North Carolina and supported by the Town of Cary, the free event runs from 1 to 7 p.m. and brings together families from across the region for an afternoon of multicultural performances, hands-on crafts, and joyful activities.

Young dancers and musicians from various backgrounds will take the stage, while kids can explore face painting, international craft stations, and sample global flavors from local food trucks.

Rooted in a Turkish tradition and embraced as a global celebration, the festival encourages children to learn about and appreciate the many cultures that make up their community.

It’s a day of shared experiences, where fun and learning come together, and where young performers are celebrated for the vibrant stories they help tell. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attend. Event Details

Are you planning on going to this local event?

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Wake County Nonprofit Helps Thousands Turn Empty Rooms Into Homes

What began as a simple gesture—offering a chair and a lamp from a church closet—has grown into a movement of comfort, stability, and second chances. This month, the Green Chair Project, a Raleigh-based nonprofit serving Wake County, celebrates 15 years of helping families transform empty apartments into real homes.

Founded to serve those emerging from homelessness, crises, or financial hardship, the organization now furnishes homes for nearly 40 families a month. Through carefully curated donations—cleaned, inspected, and selected with care—families receive not just beds, couches, and tables, but a tangible reminder that someone in the community sees and values them.

At the heart of the Green Chair Project is a philosophy rooted in dignity. Volunteers, like Suzanne Little, who’s spent more than a decade sorting and preparing donated items, treat every piece as if it were destined for their own home. The attention to detail reflects a deep belief: everyone deserves to live in a space that feels safe, beautiful, and personal.

Under the leadership of CEO Rae Marie Czuhai, the organization has reached more than 10,000 individuals since its founding. That includes thousands of children who now sleep in real beds, many for the first time in their lives. And their work goes beyond furniture—it’s about rebuilding lives with stability and hope. Follow-up surveys show that 97% of families who receive support remain in stable housing a year later.

With rising costs of living and ongoing economic strain, the need hasn’t lessened. But the Green Chair Project continues to meet it—one family, one bed, one dining table at a time. Read Full Report

How have you helped make a house feel like home for someone in need?

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Young CEO from Wake County Cleans Oceans, One Swimsuit at a Time

At just 17, Holden Bierman is managing more than homework. The Fuquay-Varina High School junior is the founder and CEO of Coastal Cool, a sustainable swimwear brand launched during the pandemic.

Starting with a $500 investment from his parents, Bierman learned to build a website, design products, and market through social media—eschewing paid ads in favor of organic growth.

Today, his swimwear, made from recycled bottles, ships around the world and removes a pound of ocean plastic with every sale. The business has earned him national attention, including a feature in Forbes.

Locally, his biggest fans include former teachers and community members who have followed his journey. Bierman now uses his story to motivate other teens, showing that age is no barrier to entrepreneurship—or impact. Read Full Report

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Meme/Thought of the Day.
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Upcoming Local Events

Looking ahead to events happening in Cary, NC for the rest of the week.
Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information.

April 18th (Friday)

April 19th (Saturday)

April 20th (Sunday)

April 21st (Monday)

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇

A deodorant tester is a real (and rather unusual) job that involves sniffing people's armpits to evaluate how effective a deodorant is at preventing body odor. These testers work in clinical labs, often under tightly controlled conditions, to assess odor levels before and after applying deodorant. It's a crucial role in the personal care industry, helping companies develop better and more reliable products for consumers.