Cary Spotlight | Issue #745

Town of Cary Election Day Winners, Random Act of Kindness, School District Seeks Student Feedback


🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 🎨 Discover Cary: The Mama Edna Project
• 📰 News: School District Seeks Student Feedback on Violence, Bullying
• 📰 News: Cary Voters Elect All-Democratic Town Council in High-Turnout Election
• ❤️😄 Meme of the Day – Just for laughs Random Act of Kindness
• 🎁 Support the businesses that support Cary: Show your support
• 📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Click your favorites.

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Question: What US president liked to celebrate his birthday by skydiving?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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.

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

📢 Quotable Moments

“We’re not a food pantry. We’re more like a cash flow for other food pantries and food assistance programs in the community.”

“Every sale goes to feeding somebody in the community. So once we clear our rent for the month, everything else goes into feeding the mission.”

Drew Klutz

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

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:

The Mama Edna Project

Click to share 3 things you love about this charity or recommend a way people can support their mission!

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School District Seeks Student Feedback on Violence, Bullying

Wake County high school students will soon be asked to weigh in on school safety through a district-wide survey launching December 1. The initiative, led by Wake County Public Schools, aims to gather student perspectives on issues such as bullying, fights, and general concerns about violence.

The survey, which will run through December 12, includes more than a dozen questions. District leaders say the results will help identify schools where safety concerns are most prominent and guide decisions on both physical upgrades and procedural changes. Depending on the feedback, adjustments could range from hardware improvements to revised policies aimed at creating safer school environments.

A summary of the results will be presented at a future school board meeting. A more detailed, school-specific analysis will take place in closed session. Officials say similar surveys have been well received in the past and that student participation is key to shaping effective safety strategies.

Cary Voters Elect All-Democratic Town Council in High-Turnout Election

In a decisive outcome for Cary’s municipal elections, voters elected three Democrats to fill the town’s open council seats, cementing a fully Democratic board for the first time. Despite technically nonpartisan races, endorsements and outcomes followed clear party lines, as Democratic-backed candidates swept all contested races.

Voter turnout reached 25 percent, the highest in two decades for a comparable local election, as residents weighed in on issues like property taxes, town services, and growth management.

Election Winners:

  • Carissa Kohn-Johnson (At-Large Seat)
    Incumbent and marketing professional; advocated for moderate tax increases to maintain town services. Won with 65% of the vote over Marjorie Eastman.

  • Brittany Richards (District A)
    First-time candidate with a background in nonprofit management; emphasized housing diversity and environmental preservation. Defeated 26-year incumbent Jennifer Robinson with 59% of the vote.

  • Bella Huang (District C)
    Political newcomer and top fundraiser; cofounder of a PAC to engage Asian American voters. Won 65% of the vote over Renee Miller in Cary’s historically conservative southern district.

    Read Full Report

Editor’s Note: Cary Spotlight aims to highlight civic engagement and community rather than party politics.

Just curious…

This year, 25% of eligible voters cast ballots and we'd love to hear your thoughts.

How do you feel about participation in Cary’s town council elections?

Click to cast your vote...

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❤️ Random Acts of Kindness
Brought to you by Cary's Daily Newsletter.

We interrupt our regularly schedule Meme of the Day for the story behind this image posted by Mama Edna’s Thrift Shop. I asked Drew and we got his answer below.

“A mother of 3 reach out on in of food yesterday. She and her partner are struggling to buy food. One request was for birthday cake mixes because 2 kids have birthdays this month. I went and personally bought what her kids requested so no kid would be without birthday cake.

Then I delivered along with several boxes of food.”

Andrew Klutz at The Mama Edna Project | Cell 919-649-0678
Honoring Mama Edna Honeycutt McLamb since 2013, their 501-3C supports food security.

🎁 Support the businesses that support Cary.

Buy Cary Spotlight coffee. Every contribution helps us highlight more local restaurants, small businesses, and nonprofits making a difference. Help us keep this resource free.

🎟️ Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few ideas for the week, so plan ahead:

• Thursday: Zumba 6PM-7PM
• Thursday: Square Dance 6:30PM-9PM
• Friday: Movie Night: Big Hero 6 6PM-10PM
• Friday: Old North State Storytelling Festival 2025 7:30PM-9:30PM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 9AM-Noon
• Saturday: 30th Annual NC Latino Diamante Awards 6:45PM-9:45PM
• Saturday: Old North State Storytelling Festival 2025 7:30PM-9:30PM

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
George H. W. Bush 🪂

The 41st U.S. president made his first skydive at age 72 to celebrate his retirement — and then did it again for his 75th, 80th, 85th, and 90th birthdays! He called the thrill “a great way to celebrate life.”