Community support
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 22, 2015 3:05 AM
Full Size
Steve Herring
Doneshia Williams of Mount Olive holds her 2-year-old daughter, Janiyah, as she spins a prize wheel during a clothing giveaway and resource fair Saturday at the Community Crisis Center on South William Street. Janiyah won a tote bag.
Janiyah Jones reached for the prize wheel to give it the mightiest spin that her 2-year-old frame could muster.
Nestled in the arms of her mother, Doneshia Williams of Mount Olive, Janiyah's face broke into a big smile when she won a tote bag.
Others waited in line for their turn during Saturday's resource fair at the Community Crisis Center on South William Street while still others waited in line for hots dogs, looked for clothing at the clothing giveaway, or took the opportunity to talk to the many agencies about the services they offer.
There was even a bouncy house for the children.
Inside the center, another and separate event, the fourth annual Community Harvest Outreach, was getting under way that included 150 boxes of food needed for a complete Thanksgiving meal.
Both lasted from noon until 4 p.m.
Normally the Community Harvest Outreach is held separately, it just worked out it was held on the same day as the resource fair, organizers said.
"This is a good program," Ms. Williams said of the resources fair. "It is good for the community because there are a lot of shootings in this area. It is good for the community to come out and show its support. I just think it is good for the community so they can come together and fellowship, get (information) about services."
It was, she said, just a good way to get her three children out of the house for a little while to have some fun.
"The Community Crisis Center, The Bridge Church, and we are (social works) students from East Carolina University and what we have kind of done is sandwiched together a resource fair in a community celebration format," Liz McDowell said. "So we have a clothing giveaway.
"The Fire Department and Police Department have mentor programs. We have NCWorks here to provide information to the community as far as jobs go. Goshen Medical is here doing medical screenings. We also have Client First Behavioral Services, and they are doing mental health stuff and giving prizes away."
Deborah King was looking for clothing for her grandchildren.
"We are in need," she said. "That is why I am here. I think it is great thing because it really helps people out. It helps people who don't have stuff. You know, it is a good thing that we have a place like this. It really helps out."
Her 6-year-old granddaughter, Shantiva Greenfield, said she was looking for a new dress.
A blue one had caught her attention, but she said she was also looking for some pants.
"It is a good cause helping people who are in need," said Elizabeth Lofton as she waited to sign in for the Community Harvest Outreach food box giveaway. "That is what Thanksgiving is all about -- giving thanks, and if God give you something, He wants you to give back to the community. That is what it is all about.
"The free clothes and food are great. I think it is a fantastic cause. Goshen Medical Center gave me a free card to go get a free exam. I didn't have the money to get one. I was looking at different events. The music is good." Ms. Lofton said she was "very, very impressed" by all of the information being made available about different agencies and the services in the area.
"It is beautiful and the weather for it is great," she said.
The Community Harvest Outreach included comments from city officials as well as organizers.
"In coordination with a variety of churches and civic organizations here in Goldsboro this is the Community Harvest Outreach," said Sandra Spruill of Woods Chapel Church.
"Basically it is a community outreach for our families who are in need of Thanksgiving boxes and we are here to service them," said Mildred Ross, also of Woods Chapel. "We surveyed the schools and we have names of families who could benefit from these Thanksgiving boxes."
Each of the 150 boxes includes a turkey, stuffing, vegetables, dessert, bread, sweet potatoes -- a whole complete Thanksgiving meal, Ms. Spruill said.
The boxes will help 150 families and about 1,500 people in the county, she said It is the fourth year the program has been held and the second year at the Community Crisis Center.