Columbus County Health Department

01/02/2026

✨ January Staff Spotlight ✨

⭐ Name: Haleigh Milligan
🩺 Title: Public Health Nurse III
⏳ Time with Us: 4 years

💙 What Haleigh Loves About Her Job:
• Meeting new people every day
• Having a great group of coworkers

Fun Fact: When she’s not caring for our community, Haleigh is busy learning how to play the banjo!

We’re so thankful for Haleigh’s dedication, compassion, and positive energy. Join us in celebrating her and the great work she does! 👏

12/31/2025

🎉 Holiday Closure Notice 🎉

The Columbus County Health Department will be closed tomorrow, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day. We will resume normal business hours on Friday, January 2.

As you ring in the New Year, please keep these safety tips in mind:
• 🚗 Plan ahead for safe transportation and never drive impaired
• 🎆 Follow local guidelines for fireworks and celebratory activities
• 🍽️ Practice food safety when preparing and storing holiday meals
• 🥶 Dress warmly and be mindful of cold weather conditions

We wish everyone a safe, healthy, and happy New Year! 🎆✨

12/29/2025

🔔 Reminder: Free Naloxone Available 🔔

Just a reminder that the Columbus County Health Department continues to offer FREE Naloxone (Narcan) to anyone who may need it. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Our supply is limited, so we encourage you to stop by soon if you or someone you know could benefit from having it on hand.

✅ No appointment needed
✅ Completely confidential
👉 Simply stop by the Health Department and ask our front desk staff for Naloxone. You’ll also receive an informational pamphlet on proper use and overdose response.

Together, we can help prevent overdoses and save lives.

12/24/2025

The Columbus County Health Department will reopen on Monday, December 29th at 8 AM!

🎄 Holiday Closure Notice 🎄

Our offices will be closed in observance of the Christmas Holiday. We will reopen on Monday, December 29.

We wish everyone a safe and joyful holiday season!

12/19/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from the Columbus County Health Department! ✨🎄

We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, safe travels, and lots of quality time with family and loved ones.

As you celebrate, please remember a few holiday safety tips:
🚗 Allow extra time when traveling, wear your seatbelt, and never drive distracted or impaired.
🍽️ Practice kitchen safety by keeping an eye on food while cooking, keeping flammable items away from the stove, and washing hands often to prevent foodborne illness.

Wishing our community a happy, healthy, and safe Christmas! ❤️🎁

12/16/2025

📢 Respiratory Illnesses Are on the Rise in North Carolina
The NC Department of Health and Human Services is reporting an increase in flu activity and flu-related deaths. As we move into colder months and gather indoors more often, flu, COVID-19, and RSV are spreading earlier and faster than usual.

To help protect our community, NC DHHS has released a new bilingual Respiratory Illness Communications Toolkit—designed for partners, organizations, and community members just like you.
https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/programs/epidemiology/communicable-disease/respiratory-diseases/seasonal/materials/vaccines

🧰 What’s Inside the Toolkit:
• Information on how flu, COVID-19, and RSV spread
• Symptoms to watch for
• Prevention tips to keep yourself and loved ones safe
• Why vaccines are the strongest defense
• Where to find low- or no-cost vaccination options

📄 Ready-to-Use Materials Include:
• Fact sheets
• Social media graphics & post copy
• Short PSAs
• Posters
• Rack cards

💬 How You Can Help:
Your voice matters. Consider sharing these materials with your networks by:
• Posting graphics and messages on social media or websites
• Displaying posters or rack cards in high-traffic areas
• Handing out fact sheets at community events or clinics
• Playing short videos in waiting rooms, classrooms, or meetings
• Including messages in newsletters or bulletins

🔗 Explore the Toolkit & Learn More:
Visit MySpot.nc.gov to access the toolkit and help spread the word.

Together, we can protect North Carolinians from severe illness this season. Thank you for everything you do to keep our community healthy! 💙

Find the most recent resources and materials about vaccines.

12/10/2025

🌟 Caregiver Academy Educational Event – Tomorrow! 🌟

Tomorrow, Thursday, December 11, 2025, “Facing the Elephant in the Room: What If You Couldn’t Speak for Yourself?” – a powerful session designed to help you plan ahead for your health and future.

🕐 Time: 1:00–2:00 PM
📍 Location: Whiteville United Methodist Church
902 Pinckney St., Whiteville, NC 28472

This event will walk participants through:
• 🏥 Healthcare Power of Attorney
• 📝 Living Will
• 💬 Why these documents matter for individuals and families
• 🩺 How to ensure your wishes are honored during a medical crisis

✅ A notary will be on-site, so you can complete and notarize your Advance Directives before you leave.

This event is FREE and open to the community—especially helpful for caregivers, older adults, families, and anyone wanting to plan ahead.

🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/CaregiverAcademy1211

For questions, please contact:
📞 Shannon Jordan, Community Engagement Coordinator – 910-409-1667
📧 Shannon.Jordan@LifeCare.org

Please see the attached flyer for full details and share this post with your networks, caregivers, faith communities, and partners who may benefit. 💙

12/10/2025

🎁 Last Week to Donate to Toys for Tots! 🎁
There’s still time to make a difference this holiday season! This is the final week to donate toys for our annual Toys for Tots Campaign, and collection boxes will be picked up on Monday, December 15th.

If you’re able, please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy for a child ages 0–18. All donations will be distributed to children right here in Columbus County. ❤️

To make giving easier, we have four convenient drop-off locations listed on the flyer below.

Thank you for helping us spread joy and brighten the holidays for families in our community. Your generosity truly makes a difference!

✨ Happy Holidays! ✨

12/09/2025

🚗⚠️ National Impaired Driving Prevention Month ⚠️🚗

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and remind everyone that safe driving saves lives. Impaired driving—whether caused by alcohol, drugs, medications, or fatigue—puts everyone at risk. Together, we can help keep our community safe.

Here’s how you can make a difference:
✔️ Never drive under the influence
✔️ Plan ahead and designate a sober driver
✔️ Use rideshare or call a friend if you’re unable to drive
✔️ Encourage others to make safe decisions
✔️ Stay alert and avoid distractions behind the wheel

Helpful Resources

🔵 Impact Teen Drivers
“Impact Teen Drivers develops, promotes, and facilitates evidence-based education to stop the number one killer of teens—car crashes, particularly those caused by reckless and distracted driving.”
• Wheel of Distraction Tool: Can be downloaded or ordered
👉 https://www.impactteendrivers.org/pixpopup-item/wheel-of-distraction/

🔵 SAMHSA – Socializing Safely This Season
Help young people make safer choices by:
• Discussing the dangers of underage alcohol and substance use—especially when combined with driving. SAMHSA’s Talk. They Hear You. campaign and mobile app can help start these conversations.
• Sharing youth-friendly resources such as Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts and the Tips for Teens series.
• Setting curfews and offering rides to prevent youth from being in unsafe situations.
• Coordinating with other parents about driving plans and ensuring substance-free environments at gatherings.

🔵 National Sheriffs’ Association
The holiday season is a time for celebration, but also a crucial time to drive sober. Two national campaigns are underway:
• Holiday Season Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign – Features enforcement and awareness materials to prevent drunk driving.
• Impaired Driving Prevention Resources – The National Center for DWI Courts (NCDC) offers a toolkit for DWI and drug courts, including event ideas, social media content, and more.

Let’s work together to ensure everyone gets home safely this holiday season and beyond. 💙
Safety is a shared responsibility—thank you for doing your part!

https://www.impactteendrivers.org/
https://www.impactteendrivers.org/pixpopup-item/wheel-of-distraction/
https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/national-impaired-driving-prevention-month
https://www.sheriffs.org/December-Impaired-Driving-Prevention-Month
https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/safety-topics/drunk-driving/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over/winter-holidays
https://allrise.org/about/division/impaired-driving-solutions/

12/08/2025

🧥✨ Coat Drive Happening Now! ✨🧥

We are excited to support a Community Coat Drive now through the New Year!

We’re accepting new or gently used coats of all sizes to help keep our neighbors warm this winter.

You can drop off donations at any of the following locations:
📍 Columbus County Health Department
📍 Whiteville Medical Associates
📍 WVOE Radio in Chadbourn

Every coat makes a difference. 💙
See the flyer below for full details, and thank you for helping us support our community this season!

12/04/2025

🌟 Caregiver Academy Educational Event – Free & Open to the Community 🌟

Join us for “Facing the Elephant in the Room: What If You Couldn’t Speak for Yourself?” – a powerful session designed to help you plan ahead for your health and future.

📅 Date: December 11, 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00–2:00 PM
📍 Location: Whiteville United Methodist Church
902 Pinckney St., Whiteville, NC 28472

This event will guide participants through:
• 🏥 Healthcare Power of Attorney
• 📝 Living Will
• 💬 Why these documents matter for individuals and families
• 🩺 How to ensure your wishes are honored during a medical crisis

✅ A notary will be on-site, so you can complete and notarize your Advance Directives before you leave.

This event is FREE and open to the community—especially helpful for caregivers, older adults, families, and anyone wanting to plan ahead.

🔗 Register here: tinyurl.com/CaregiverAcademy1211

For questions, please contact:
📞 Shannon Jordan, Community Engagement Coordinator – 910-409-1667
📧 Shannon.Jordan@LifeCare.org

Please see the attached flyer for full details and feel free to share this post with your networks, caregivers, faith communities, and partners who may benefit. 💙

12/04/2025

📣 FREE Food Drive – Happening TODAY! 🥦🍎🥫
Join us TODAY, Thursday, December 4th at 11 AM for a FREE Food Drive right here at the Columbus County Health Department!

📍 Location:
304 Jefferson St.
Whiteville, NC 28472

This is a great opportunity to:
✅ Pick up free food for you and your family
✅ Connect with Health Department staff
✅ Meet other community members

No registration required – just stop by! We look forward to seeing you today and sharing resources that support a healthy community. 💙



📣 ¡Distribución de Comida GRATIS – ¡Hoy! 🥦🍎🥫
Acompáñanos HOY, jueves 4 de diciembre a las 11 AM para una Distribución de Comida GRATIS aquí en el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Columbus.

📍 Ubicación:
304 Jefferson St.
Whiteville, NC 28472

Esta es una excelente oportunidad para:
✅ Recoger comida gratis para ti y tu familia
✅ Conectarte con el personal del Departamento de Salud
✅ Conocer a otros miembros de la comunidad

No se requiere registro – ¡solo pasa por aquí HOY! Esperamos verte y compartir recursos que apoyan una comunidad saludable. 💙