Church donates $100,000 to Community Crisis Center
By Lee Williams
Published in News on July 31, 2007 1:45 PM
Deeper Life Church Ministries has donated $100,000 to the HGDC Community Crisis Center on Slocumb Street to help needy residents.
Pastor Norbert Simmons made the donation on behalf of his congregation on July 20. The ministry saw the difference that the center has made in the community, and they wanted to join the effort, Simmons said.
"We often concern ourselves with mission efforts overseas, which is a huge task to plan and a good thing to do, but it is better to take care of home first. If we don't take care of home, we cannot depend on others to do so for us," Simmons said.
The non-profit organization, which opened its doors in 1981, serves about 11,000 meals and provides clothing to hundreds every year. The facility also offers a shelter, food bank, emergency financial assistance to low-income families and prescription assistance to the elderly.
Additionally, the center delivers hot turkey meals to over 200 elderly and ill residents on Thanksgiving Day each year.
But the Crisis Center not only offers a helping hand to local residents, it also teaches them how to become more self-sufficient in the future.
The center offers computer classes and counseling services for drug and alcohol addicts and ex-offenders.
"It is apparent that the Crisis Center has had an impact in the Goldsboro community," said Carolyn Buffalo, the center's secretary. "The HGDC Community Crisis Center has been quite successful in changing lives, getting people off of drugs and alcohol, and assisting people with finding jobs."
Simmons lauded the center's work and urged other churches, businesses and individuals to donate, too.
"I support this mission wholeheartedly because it is a ministry that many people don't want to get involved with. It is sad that many people jump at the opportunity to "feed the children in Africa" or some other area in a Third World country without giving thought about the people living on the streets or standing on the corners in America or right here in town. We organize all of these efforts to support missions around the world, which are wonderful projects, but we should do more to support local missions," he said.
For more information on how to donate money or clothing to the center, call 734-6836, or mail donations to P.O. Box 171, Goldsboro 27533.