DUBLIN, Ga. — Now that Valentine's Day is over, the Emerald City is gearing up to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
One of Dublin's holiday traditions, the Shamrock Your Ride fundraiser, is back this weekend.
This year's proceeds will support the nonprofit Easter Seals of Middle Georgia, which helps people with disabilities find long-term employment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is about double the rate of people without disabilities.
That's where Easter Seals has stepped up to help people like Cleveland Wilson find work.
"It really helps me because it's easy work and it's good," Wilson said. "And it's smart work that helps the community."
Easter Seals connects people with disabilities to employers that will train them and employ them for specific jobs that work around their disability.
It can be especially hard finding those jobs close to home if you live in a rural area like Laurens County.
"The V.A. came to the Easter Seals to get me this job because of my disability," Wilson said.
Thanks to Easter Seals, he's been working with his disabilities for the past six years. Wilson is a disabled Navy veteran who was injured in the neck and shoulders on top of having a stroke.
Today, he works to intricately cut foam into certain shapes that fit into the wings of C-130 and F-15 fighter jets. Some of them get sent to Robins Air Force.
"It's real exciting to me because I like to go to the Air Force Base in Warner Robins, and look around and see the planes," Wilson said.
He's thankful for people like Marketing Director Whitney Kilgo at Morris Bank, who've helped organize Dublin's 15-year fundraising tradition.
"It's just been a fun way to give back to a local nonprofit, usually a different one year over year," Kilgo said.
Last year, they sold out of 500 stickers, and they hope to do the same this year.
"It's just a great way to get in that St. Patrick's spirit a little bit early, and just show your Irish pride throughout the month," Kilgo said.
The fundraiser is this Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. while supplies last.
Friday's fundraiser is at Morris Bank's downtown branch on Bellevue Avenue, and Saturday's fundraiser is at the Dublin Mall branch on Veterans Boulevard.
They take cash or check, and stickers are $5 for a small shamrock and $10 for a large shamrock.
Additionally, the Shepard Center will have certified technicians there to do free car and booster safety checks.