ROCKINGHAM - A year ago, former Richmond County residents Walt and Randi Wood, along with their sons Nathan and Jordan, packed up their belongings and made the move to Guatemala to work for Casa Aleluya, a non-profit home for children.
A year later, two of the boys' friends - twins Conner and Camden Williams - have decided to use their upcoming birthday party as a way to help raise funds for their buddies more than 1,500 miles away.
On February 10, the boys will celebrate their 10th birthdays, but are asking family and friends to skip the presents and focus on monetary gifts to send down south to Central America.
"They're asking friends and family not to give them birthday presents, but money instead for the orphanage," said the twins' mother Cayce Williams. "We also have an account at State Employees Credit Union under both their names specifically to give money to Walt and Randi."
Williams went on to say that her boys have been friends with the Wood brothers with their oldest recently turning 10 himself. Through Sunday school and children's clubs at Roberdel Baptist Church, the four became close.
It was also through their friendship with Tatum Rhyne, another young lady from Ellerbe who has used her birthdays in the past to raise money for certain causes including the Woods, that Conner and Camden decided they would give back, too.
"When Tatum did her last fundraiser, they asked if we can do the same," said Williams. "They have people donate and send money for (the Wood's) expenses so they just wanted to be a part of helping them down there."
In addition to the Williams twins birthday celebration, a group of local LulaRoe consultants will have an all-day sale with a portion of those proceeds to go to Camden and Conner.
That party is slated for January 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bold Moves Dance Company in downtown Rockingham.
