Murphy Ready for Dolly Parton Day

Press Release

The idea began with a simple meme that asked, “If May 4th is Star Wars Day, can September 25th be Dolly Parton Day?” Mayor Tim Radford saw it and thought, “Yes, it can.”

Other cities and counties across the country have joined in.

The purpose of Dolly Parton Day is simple: encourage people to do something good for someone else. That might mean helping a neighbor, supporting a local organization, encouraging a child, donating needed items, or simply showing kindness.

The Town of Murphy thanks everyone who is participating in Dolly Parton Day and taking part in a Dolly Good Deed.

Town officials also know there are many more good deeds happening across Murphy that were never formally reported.

You do not have to be on a list to make a difference. Just do something good.

1. Friends of the Public Defender’s Office will donate cleaning supplies and snacks to the local homeless shelter as its Dolly Good Deed.

2. Murphy Head Start is collecting personal hygiene products throughout September to donate to the local homeless shelter.

3. Heifer & Bull Butchery has committed to packing four Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes through Samaritan’s Purse and is inviting the community to participate by packing additional shoeboxes. Filled shoeboxes will be collected through November 16.

4. Murphy High School students are taking part in a “Leave It Better Than You Found It” challenge throughout the school day. Bulldogs are being encouraged to look for simple ways to make a positive difference, including picking up litter, cleaning shared spaces, helping others without being asked, including someone who may be alone, helping teachers and staff, thanking people who make a difference, and showing kindness to classmates. Their message is simple: “Do good. Be kind. Make a difference. Go Dogs!”

5. First United Methodist Church Mission Team collected nonperishable food and other needed items for the Blessing Box at Four Square Head Start. Members of the Mission Team will stock the box at 10 a.m. on September 25, with extra items left for future refills.

6. Olive’s Porch and John C. Campbell Folk School are hosting a children’s book drive from September 25 through October 25 to benefit local youth and encourage a love of reading. New or gently used books for children ages 3 to 15 may be donated at Olive’s Porch in Murphy or the Craft Shop at John C. Campbell Folk School during regular business hours.

7. Bridges to Learning Tutoring Center students are creating fall-themed “Notes of Kindness” with messages of encouragement, friendship and appreciation. On September 25, students will give their notes to a friend, teacher, neighbor or family member in honor of Dolly Parton’s example of kindness.

8. Crafted Dough will feature a special butterfly-themed cake in a cup for Dolly Parton Day. The business will donate 10% of its sales that day to Region A Partnership for Children. The special will be available during regular business hours from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

9. Valley River Apartments is providing a free biscuits & gravy breakfast for all their residents. Residents should bring their own coffee and enjoy a nice breakfast.

10. State Employees’ Credit Union will serve free coffee, drinks and donuts and give away free children’s books from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday at the State Employees’ Credit Union, 1297 Andrews Road in Murphy. The public is welcome to attend.

11. Ashley Crisp is donating an engraved picture of Dolly Parton on glass to the Murphy Art Center. The donation will be presented at the Murphy Art Center at 3 p.m. Thursday.

12. Cherokee County Employees will be providing items to nursing homes in Cherokee County as well as items to the Foster Care Closing Closet.

13. Cherokee County Search and Rescue is collecting items for several community needs. Nursing homes need puzzles, large-print playing cards, word-search and coloring books, personal care products, stationery, blankets, socks, stuffed animals, sweaters and other comfort items. The Cherokee County foster child clothing closet needs new or like-new children’s clothing, especially boys’ and girls’ sizes 2T through 8 and girls’ sizes 10/12. Elementary schools can also use book donations. Donations may be delivered directly to the organization they are intended for or dropped off at the Administrative Suite at the Cherokee County Courthouse through 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

14. The Cherokee County Historical Museum will provide 12 board book sets to Head Start programs in Murphy and Andrews.

15. Marna Lynch is helping families purchase fresh produce at Red Rooster Produce at Decker’s Flea Market. From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Friday, families who use the code word “Marna” can receive up to $20 toward fresh produce.

16. Randy Glass will give away gently worn Murphy Bulldogs shirts and jackets beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing while supplies last.

17. Kurti Orthodontics is supporting REACH Women’s Resource Center by providing warm hats, gloves and scarves for winter, along with hygiene products such as shampoo, conditioner and lip balm.

18. House of Esther will hold a Dolly Day pay-what-you-can donated clothing sale from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., along with a coffee and lemonade pop-up. Proceeds will benefit the Cherokee County Shop With a Cop program.

19. Several organizations and volunteers will spend Friday reading to children on Center Stage in Downtown Murphy, honoring Dolly Parton’s commitment to literacy and her Imagination Library. At 9 a.m., First United Methodist Church will be represented by Robin Burnette and Paula Wadstrom. At 10 a.m., Eastern Star readers will be Phyllis Forbes and Rose Anderson. At 11 a.m., school volunteer Judith Bodley will read. At noon, Grape Creek ECA and Community Development Club will be represented by Betty Hedrick, Joan Dockery and Linda Bain. At 1 p.m., Cherokee County Retired School Personnel readers will be Catherine Dailey and Margaret Lunsford. At 2 p.m., REACH will be represented by Cecilia Crawford-Faulkner and a guest. At 3 p.m., Rotary Club of Murphy readers will be Cathy Yost and Trevis Hicks. At 4 p.m., Mayor’s Rising Stars members Fisher Grant and Marin Keen will close out the day of reading.

20. Simply Sweet Baby Boutique is accepting entries throughout the week to provide a gift certificate to a deserving mother, who will be announced Friday.

21. Janice Law will teach a free community gentle yoga class at the Rock Gym at 9:30 a.m. Participants can bring a yoga mat or blanket. Donations of pet food, towels and blankets for Valley River Humane Society and clothing and housewares for REACH are also being encouraged.

22. The Havens Ladies are cleaning out their pantries and collecting food that will be delivered to a local food bank Friday.

23. Ogreeta Baptist Church will deliver food, snacks and other supplies to homebound church members.

24. Parents as Teachers held a free Roll and Read event for families on September 19 at Konaheeta Park. Families received free books, participated in children’s activities and learned about community resources, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the Parents as Teachers program.

25. Buck Bald Brewing will have two charity beers available, with a portion of proceeds supporting ALS research and Shepherd’s Men, which assists veterans dealing with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress.

26. The Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority is holding a “Share the Warmth” coat drive at the Murphy Visitor Center through Friday. New or gently used, freshly washed coats in good condition will be sorted by size and donated to local nonprofits.

27. The Murphy Town Council and Mayor’s Rising Stars will conduct a downtown litter pickup from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m. Friday, with volunteers welcome to participate.

28. Tri-County Democratic Women are making a donation to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through the Region A Partnership for Children, which serves children in Cherokee and surrounding counties. Members also plan to continue performing individual good deeds.

29. The Press will serve a Dolly-themed special called “A Cup of Ambition” throughout Friday and donate 10% of those sales to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

30. Burning Acre will launch a cold-weather essentials drive Friday for the Murphy Homeless Shelter. Cold-weather clothing and new essential items can be dropped off at 115 Tennessee Street beginning Friday, with the drive continuing through October 16.

31. Narrative Bookstore will give away free used children’s books from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., with a limit of one book per child while supplies last.

32. Zariff Photography and Her Lens Co. will provide free professional empowerment portraits for residents of Murphy Nursing Home at 4 p.m. The Wildflower Pickers, a local Appalachian youth band, will provide music for residents during the photo session.

33. Valley River Dental is making monetary donations for books for Cherokee County school libraries and is accepting donations through 3 p.m. Friday.

34. NC Cooperative Extension Cherokee County Master Gardener Volunteers are inviting the community to help remove invasive plants along the Murphy Riverwalk. Volunteers will meet at the Master Gardeners’ garden at the bridge at 8:30 a.m. and work until 11:30 a.m., helping protect native plants and trees while beautifying the Riverwalk.

35. The Unaka Community Development Club is working with the Unaka Senior Center to provide books to children in the community, primarily from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

36. Indigo Mountain Traders will donate a percentage of its Dolly Parton merchandise sales Friday to a local charity and personally match that amount. The store will be open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

37. Downtown Pizza is partnering with REACH to provide period products and other hygiene supplies for women.

38. The Crown in Brasstown will hold “Old Fashioneds and Fur Babies” from 4:30 until 9 p.m. Five percent of sales will be donated to Valley River Humane Society, and the restaurant will share the shelter’s needs list for customers who would also like to donate supplies.

39. The Rotary Club of Murphy is collecting books for older students to donate to the library and collecting money to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

40. The Peachtree Community Development Club will provide breakfast Friday morning for teachers and staff at Peachtree Elementary School. The club will also donate tissues and antibacterial wipes for classrooms.

41. A group of anonymous pickleball women from Cherokee and Clay counties is making donations in Dolly’s name to the Extra Mile Shoe Fund, which provides new shoes to local students in need. Others may also contribute through the Extra Mile organization.

42. Moog Components Group has set up donation boxes for employees to collect needed items for Valley River Humane Society. The collection will continue through the remainder of September.

43. Debbie Thigpen is paying it forward with a random act of kindness by giving an Ingles gift card to someone else.

44. Enchanted Butterfly is making small clay hearts for anyone who wants one as a reminder that they matter and are loved. The hearts will be available at the shop from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

45. All American Estate Clearing and Antiques is providing free water and popsicles to customers.

46. Legends Steakhouse will give a free book to every child who comes in to dine with their family Friday between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

47. The Unaka Senior Center will give away free books to homeschooled and pre-K children from 10 a.m. until noon.

48. Chevelle’s, Ciao Bella and Flower Hound Farm are taking part in several ways. Flower Hound Farm is accepting donations for Valley River Humane Society, Ciao Bella is setting up a Little Free Library, and Chevelle’s will donate a percentage of sales to the local library.

49. The Homeless Shelter Thrift Store is holding a “bag of books” sale, with customers able to purchase a bag containing up to 30 books for $5. Pink items and items featuring butterflies will also receive an additional discount. The promotion runs throughout the week.

50. Mountain Vale Lodge is collecting nonperishable food to be distributed to local church food pantries and the Homeless Shelter Thrift Store pantry. Donations can be dropped off at 66 Tennessee Street through Friday.

51. The Cherokee County Clerk of Court’s office is preparing a care package for residents of the Alzheimer’s unit at Murphy Nursing and Rehab.

52. Wagner Worx Co-Working Bar will donate $1 from each glass of Dolly Parton wine sold Friday to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The business will be open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

53. High Lonesome Therapeutic Equestrian Center will have 14 athletes, five horses and 33 volunteers participating in the North Carolina Special Olympics state equestrian competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center. Volunteers will assist with horse care, serve as leaders and sidewalkers, chaperone athletes and help competitors throughout the day.

54. The Valley River Arts Guild at the Murphy Art Center will hold a Legacy Donation Drive, collect books, promote kindness, encourage people to wear pink and provide pink refreshments from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

55. The Hiwassee Dam Senior Center will have its congregate members prepare “sunshine packs” for homebound senior citizens. The packages will include a book and other items intended to brighten their day.

56. Lynn, a local resident, plans a personal Dolly Good Deed by preparing a meal using Dolly Parton recipes and delivering it to an 88-year-old neighbor.

57. FairyCross Bottle Shop is collecting hygiene products for local fourth- and fifth-grade students, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, dental floss and socks. Donations can be dropped off through Friday.

58. The Little Shop will hold a free clothing day from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. People in need may look through donated clothing and take what they need. The shop may also offer free cookies and sweet treats, and additional clothing and treat donations are welcome.

59. Finally, Murphy School of Dance will hold a beginner-friendly Dolly-themed line dancing class at 6 p.m. at 281 Tennessee Street. Participants are encouraged to dress in pink, rhinestones, boots, rainbows and cowgirl hats and dance to some of Dolly’s greatest hits. Admission is $15 for individuals and $25 for couples, with 100% of the proceeds going to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.