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Laughing for charity
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Residents and county employees celebrate Red Nose Day with a photo outside the Liberty County Historic Courthouse Thursday. - photo by Photo by Tiffany King

Wearing bright red noses around the Historic Liberty County Courthouse was all in good fun to raise awareness on an important issue.

County employees and community members celebrated Red Nose Day May 25, which fights child poverty around the world.

Comic Relief, a charity based in the United Kingdom, started Red Nose Day in 1985 and the signature red foam nose is used to attract people through comedy.

Red Nose Day was first celebrated in the U.S. in 2015.

Annie Torres, an employee of the county’s building and maintenance department, owner of Step by Step Floors and More and A.T. Photography, put together a lunch to raise funds.

"I did it last year but all we did was a picture in front of the courthouse," Torres said. "We raised $256 last year and this time I wanted to do something different."

People paid $5 for lunch. The money and any donations were collectively given as Liberty County’s donation.

"Panera Bread, Papa Johns and Baldinos donated food for this occasion and several co-workers donated covered dishes," she said.

Island Café donated smoothies.

Torres believes no child should go hungry.

"The thing is to help the children," she said. "I saw a video and it put me to tears because this little boy didn’t have a mother and just this (Red Nose Day donations) helped him get into school, got him some shoes and some clothes. If you know me that’s what I’m all about, helping somebody."

The room was especially decorated for the day by Charline Holmes with red crystals handing from white trees on the table, on top of red rose patterned table clothes.

There was also a red backdrop for people to take photos in front of with props, costumes, red noses, and a large picture frame.

Torres was about to cry at how everything turned out.

People then gathered for a group photo outside the courthouse. Even a UPS worker, delivering packages to the building got in on the fun and put on a red nose and props.

During lunch Torres continued to think of ways to give back to those in need.

"What I plan to do with some of this food that is leftover is go to the gazebo and feed the homeless and donate it to the shelter," she said.

That night on NBC was the Red Nose Day night which featured special programming, music, comedy and a telethon.

Some of our own residents might have been featured during the telethon. Torres said photos with the hashtag #RedNoseDay would be shown live on television during the night’s specials.

"This is near and dear to my heart," Torres said. "I don’t like to see anyone go hungry. So to be able to share this with my co-workers means a lot."

To make a donation for Red Nose Day pay online at www.RedNoseDay.org or in-person at Walgreens.

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