SPRINGFIELD — An event that can only be described as a smashing success occurred at the Effingham County Administrative Complex on Dec. 14.

The United Way of the Coastal Empire-Effingham County generated $227 at a Dec. 12 pie-throwing event whose targets were notable Effingham County figures, including Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie and County Manager Tim Callanan. County government employees received a chance to toss a pie at department heads for a donation of at least one dollar.

The fundraising idea arose as a way to obtain donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am just grateful to (Human Resources employee) Sarah (Mausolf) for being the brainchild behind this,” United Way Area Director Elizabeth Waters said. “She was our ‘champion’ for the Effingham County Board of Commissioners for our (fundraising) campaign this year. This also built up morale, so we are very excited.”

Laughs echoed across the complex as soon as the whipped cream assault started. Human Resources Director Vicki Webb was the recipient of most of the early throws, including several by Lt. Kenny Allen of Effingham County Prison. He “creamed” virtually every department head.

In addition to Dunn, McDuffie and Callanan, Effingham County Fire & Rescue Chief Clint Hodges, Director of Parks & Landscaping Seth Zeigler, E-911 Jay Spinks, CMS Operations Manager Bob Summers, Prison Warden Victor Walker and Recreation Director Clarence Morgan sacrified their dignity for a good cause. All wore hair caps, goggles and yellow plastic suits for their protection.

“We are just thankful that they were all willing to do it,” Waters said. “I was very surprised when Sarah said, ‘Yeah! We are going to do it!’

“And the list (of targets) kept growing, growing and growing.”