In the middle of the busy spring social season on the Eastern Shore, SOS Sink or Swim, the local charity dedicated to teaching children how to swim and be safe in the water, wants you to stay home and relax. SOS is not holding a fundraising event this year, so all donations can go straight to teaching more life-saving skills to children.

“For the last few years, we have raised money by inviting people to dinners and holding auctions,” said SOS Development Chair Bev Pratt. “This year, rather than paying for dinner and an event, all of the donations we receive will go into the pool with the children. As one of our 7-year-old swim graduates so smartly reminded us, ‘If you swim, you don’t drown.’”

Since it was founded in 2014, SOS, working with its administrative partner, the St. Michaels Community Center, has taught more than 1,400 local children how to swim. The goal this year is to teach another 1,000 children. Three, two-week sessions will again offer swimming lessons for children aged 18 months through 15 years at the George Murphy Community Pool in Easton and the Bay Hundred Community Pool in St. Michaels. Lessons are open to all, but registration is required. Registration forms are available for download at www.sossinkorswim.org.

SOS recently re-structured, with the non-profit Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum coming aboard as is its fiscal sponsor. To donate to SOS, visit www.sossinkorswim.org or send a check to: SOS Sink or Swim, 606A N. Talbot Street, Ste 109, St. Michaels, MD 21663.