Free supper, social media info, laughs on menu

Area youth ministers are inviting any interested parents, grandparents, guardians, aunts or uncles to a Parents Night Out this Friday night.

The event is designed to not only give parents a break, but also to teach them more about social media.

“We organized D-Now every year,” Garrett Davis, student minister of Carolina Baptist Church said of the organizing committee. “We’re attracting up to 1,100 students to D-Now every February. We just want to also invest in our parents.”

The event is slated for 6 p.m. this Fri., Feb. 13, at Southside Baptist Church. A free BBQ supper will be provided, followed by an approximately 45-minute presentation by Gadsden native Emily Hamilton on social media.

Davis said Hamilton is a graduate of the New Orleans Seminary and is considered a social media expert.

“She will talk about safety and many different aspects,” Davis said. “Many parents don’t even know about the privacy and safety features built in. Most parents know about Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, but many don’t know about other social media platforms, such as Tinder.

“Across the nation, kids are having major self image problems, and are having to be counseled,” Davis said. “All of it stems from things they’re doing, seeing, and the reactions they’re getting on social media. Want to do something to really encourage them to know what’s going on.”

Following an intermission, comedian Clayburn Cow will lighten up the tone, Davis said.

“He is a Christian comedian, and won the 2012 clean comedy award,” Davis said.

In addition to the food and entertainment, there will be drawings for door prizes, including dinner for two at David’s; dinner for two at Samurai; lunch for two at Tabby D’s; and a date night package for dinner and a movie.