Community Calendar

The event starts January 30th, 2026, for 4 to 8pm with Live Music, Silent Auction, Raffles, 50/50
the event continues January 31st with the sale of a BBQ meal from 11am to 5pm.
Meal tickets are $15.00 for a BBQ Chicken or Pulled Port BBQ including Mashed Potatoes, Baked Beans and a Roll; add $5. for Chicken and Pork Combo

Stand together for healing, justice, resilience, and prevention to create a safer, stronger community for every child.

Help raise $100,000 at this event to ensure child victims of abuse receive forensic services and healing therapy, and provide child abuse prevention education to our community.

Tin Man Awards:
Celebrate individuals in our community who make a difference in the lives of child survivors of abuse.

Our Keynote Speaker:

Danielle Saintard Valiente is a passionate entrepreneur, published author, inspirational speaker, and dedicated philanthropist in Wilmington, NC.

As a child, Danielle was a perfectionist—overachieving and overcommitting to hide the chaos and abuse at home. For 18 years, she lived two lives: one in darkness and one in light.

At 13, inspired by Trading Spaces, Danielle decided to become an interior designer to give others what she never had—a home. At 29, she faced her past and now uses her story to educate, empower, and enlighten others about prevention, awareness, and intervention.

Danielle has pivoted her life 180 degrees, finding purpose in her past and using it as fuel for her future.

Her keynote is sure to inspire.

Thursday morning music club meets at 10:30 on the second Thursday Oct. - May. Our upcoming meeting will feature Beverly Andrews and the Classical Carolina trio in the lovely chapel at first Presbyterian Church. Reception will follow.

Come have fun for a great cause: strengthening our community through health and wellness grants and scholarships. All levels AND other games welcomed! Register as an individual or purchase multiple tickets together if you have table assignment preferences. Raffle, snacks and fun auction items you don't want to miss. Space is limited.

Sign up for 1-4 OR 5-8 PM. or sign up for both!

Our Story:

The Ministering Circle awards grants annually of over $100,000 to local nonprofits providing humanitarian and wellness services in the Cape Fear region. We have also awarded a half-million dollars in endowments and scholarships to the nursing programs at UNCW and Cape Fear Community College.

There aren’t many volunteer organizations that can look back on a record of more than a century of continuous service to the health and wellness of their community, but such is the history of The Ministering Circle. Throughout several generations, our non-denominational group of 50 women has worked tirelessly to attain its goal of serving our beloved neighbors.

Fundraising through our Annual Raffle, our famous Red Apron Gourmet Food Sale and the sales of The Ministering Circle cookbook Favorite Recipes of the Lower Cape Fear, along with gifts, legacies, and memorials to loved ones, supports wonderful and benevolent projects and programs, that serve the Cape Fear region.

Designed as an immersive and inclusive experience, I Heart ILM will showcase original works by over 25 artists, featuring a mix of local Wilmington talent and visiting artists, all inspired by Haring’s bold visual language, activism, and commitment to accessibility in art.

I Heart ILM is more than just an art show—it’s a full hands-on experience. Guests are invited to grab a marker and contribute to a community doodle board, create their own designs at graff-style sticker making stations, strike a pose in the photo booth, and browse silent auctions filled with original artwork and creative goods. Proceeds from the silent auctions will benefit Cape Fear LGBTQ Centers youth initiatives as well as other youth art programs in the city; aligning with Haring’s legacy of advocacy, education, and expression.

Popular Wilmington DJ, “RizzyBeats” will be curating the sounds of the evening. Playing a mix of early hiphop, new wave, disco and punk music to recreate the vibe of the late 80s NYC art & club scene.

The event is free and open to all ages, inviting families, art lovers, and community members to connect through creativity in a welcoming environment.

I Heart ILM is about honoring Keith Haring’s influence while celebrating the vibrant, diverse creative community we have right here in Wilmington. It’s art as connection, expression, and support.

Live Irish music and dancers, fundraiser for the Wilmington St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 14).
Free admission, donations welcome.

For the fourth year in a row, Plastic Ocean Project is bringing together the music of the Grateful Dead and environmental action. Join us for an evening of live music featuring Shakedown Citi, a New York–based Grateful Dead tribute band, at Bowstring Burgers and Brewyard.

This pay-what-you-can benefit concert supports Plastic Ocean Project’s mission to protect our oceans and waterways. Enjoy live music, local vendors, artists, raffles, and great company, all for a good cause. A suggested donation of $10 is encouraged, and donations over $25 will receive a complimentary tee while supplies last.

🎰 Please join us for a fun-filled night with special celebrity host Trevor Donovan!
Enjoy non-cash prizes including blackjack, roulette, poker, and craps, plus a silent auction, best-dressed contest, delicious food, and music. It’s a night you won’t want to miss!

Last year, with a sold-out crowd, the evening was filled with excitement, generosity, and a shared passion for animal welfare 🐶. Beyond the casino tables and silent auction items, the true heart of Raise the Ruff Casino Night is its impact. Because of the generosity of sponsors and attendees, Paws Place netted nearly $95,000—all going directly to the dogs at the shelter. Every dollar raised provides food, medical care, and a safe haven for dogs in need, giving them the second chances they deserve ♥️

Paws Place Dog Rescue, a 501(C)(3) non-profit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of rescued dogs. As you can imagine, the expense of operating a 26 kennel facility, providing medical care and treatment, and staffing our facility is costly. We need your help to continue our proud tradition of "Saving lives....One at a time!"

Empty Bowls is a beloved community event that brings together local restaurants, potters, volunteers, and neighbors to support hunger relief in our region. Each guest receives:
• One selection from a variety of specialty soups, donated by local restaurants
• An artisan bowl of your choosing, provided by local artists
• An opportunity to share a meal in fellowship with your neighbors, in support of Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard’s food pantry and Good Shepherd Center’s soup kitchen

All proceeds from Empty Bowls support both Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and Good Shepherd Center. Your support helps Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard provide nonperishable groceries and essential items through its Food Pantry and helps Good Shepherd Center serve hot meals through the Soup Kitchen and offer fresh produce and staples through the Grocery Giveaway. Together, your generosity ensures that neighbors across our community remain nourished and cared for. Tickets are $50, and sponsorship opportunities are available. We look forward to welcoming the community for this meaningful, long-standing tradition of compassion and support.

Purchase tickets and sponsorships here: https://goodshepherdwilmington.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/EmptyBowls2026/tabid/1562759/Default.aspx

This concert series was organized to raise money for our non-profit organization and temple. There are 3 concert dates, each will have different musical artists and genre performances. This is an open seating event, however, space is limited. After each concert, there will be a wine and cheese reception where concert goers can talk to the artists and ask questions about our organization.