News

     Lumberton High School Peace Club made a huge donation to the food pantry this week!  The group brought 692 pounds of nonperishable food to help feed hungry people.  Other groups are planning donations for December.

     Other donors, like a retired pastor who wants to remain anonymous, have given the pantry over 1000 pounds of food in the past few weeks.

     Thanks also to our monthly donor, Campbell Soup Co., Maxton.  We have plenty of soups!  We receive a pallet of soup from them every month.

     Can you help now?  Even small amounts add up quickly and families depend on us to assist them.  Between January and the end of October we have served 2,667 Robeson County families -- an all-time record for us.

     We especially need canned fruit, juices (100% juice please), peanut butter, canned meats and breakfast cereals. 

     Hope you will take a little time to view new photos in our gallery.  First Baptist Church of Lumberton dedicated Nov. 7 as "Inasmuch Day."   Three of their work projects included building 2 wheelchair ramps for our senior citizens and preparing trees for use as free firewood to people who come to us for heating assistance.

    Thanks to all these hard workers in God's Kingdom!

      RCCCC Staff has begun its Christmas planning for 2009.  We have already had families contacting us to find out if adults will be able to join our Christmas Investors' Program in order to earn gifts for their children who still live at home.

      We have sponsored this program for three years now because it gives adults an opportunity to provide gifts for children that they have earned through their sweat equity as volunteers at our Home Store or in the Food Pantry.  That work experience can be valuable as training for paid employment in addition to boosting self-esteem because the adult has truly provided Christmas for the family without asking for a handout.

      What we now need is your commitment in order to make this gift real for Robeson County families.

      If your family, work group, Sunday school class, church or community organization would like to become a partner by providing gifts for us to put in our Christmas Store, we would like to know that as soon as your group decides it wants to become involved.  Call the office at 910.738.5204 to leave a message, or email the director at rccccdir@ncrrbiz.com. 

      We need your gifts before Wednesday, December 16 because the Christmas Store will be open by appointment for all investors on December 18, 19 and 21.

      Most needed gifts are small electronic games for boys between 8 and 12, sports equipment and educational games.  Next needed is cash donations so we can provide $50.00 gift certificates for teens and $20.00 gift certificates for mothers and grandmothers who often are raising children alone. 

      We also appreciate warm clothes, scarves, caps, gloves for all ages (child - adult) and a few gifts for senior citizens. 

      Please send new gifts only.

      Robeson County Church and Community Center wants to deliver its newsletters by email.  If the Center does not already have your email address, would you please send a message to Nancy Milligan at the following address with "Newsletter Please"  in the subject line?  Thanks so much!  We are trying to join the 21st century.

     In response to customer and donor requests, beginning Monday, February 16, the Home Store will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for your shopping and donating convenience!  We will celebrate with a sale on all winter clothes!  Come in for details.

     Beginning Wednesday, February 18, the Home Store will close each Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.  For any questions, please contact the store at 608.3003.

     Sixty families, including more than 127 children, will have a brighter Christmas this year -- thanks to the love of so many who contributed new toys, bikes, games, books and clothes to our Christmas Store.   The RCCCC conference room overflowed with gifts for babies through preteens!

     The parking garage for the van was filled to the brim with bicycles and trikes donated by the employees from Campbell Soup Company in Maxton who used their own funds to give more than 100 bikes and trikes to us.  Other givers include:  Circle #4, Chestnut St. United Methodist, Lumberton; Young Disciples, Pleasant Grove United Methodist, Raleigh; St. Pauls United Methodist, St. Pauls; Broken and Blessed Reunion Group, Lumberton; Becky Thompson and Friends, Lumberton; University United Methodist, Chapel Hill; Red Springs Toy Run, Red Springs; The School Nutrition Association and Cafeteria Staff, Public Schools of Robeson County; Fairmont United Methodist, Raleigh; New Zion United Methodist, Rowland; SRMC CAP Office, Lumberton; Sandy Plains United Methodist, Pembroke; Barbara Cruce, Lumberton; Luster Gold Smith Circle, Mt. Sylvan United Methodist, Durham; South East Area Transit System (SEATS), Lumberton, First Presbyterian, Lumberton.

     Still other groups and individuals made financial contributions so that teens and parents could receive a Christmas gift certificate.  Watch for a complete list in a forthcoming newsletter.

     After the last family received its presents, the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association transported leftover gifts for its Christmas giving program which continues through tomorrow.  With so much need in Robeson County, every gift will be used!

          Parents left the Christmas Store loaded down with gifts and some had tears in their voices as they thanked God for your generosity.  We also say a warm thank you and pray that you will have a blessed Christmas and holiday season.

     Check out the photo gallery to catch a glimpse of the giving spirit provided by many churches and organizations for people who do without regularly.

     If you have even 2 hours to give once each week, we could certainly use your help working in our food pantry.  We are busiest during the morning hours from 9:30 to 11:30 or noon.  We need help assisting people who come for food.  A friendly face and a smile in your heart goes a long way to lift the spirits of those who seek our  help.  The ability to lift groceries is a plus.  Call 910-738-5204 and ask for Jackie if you want to volunteer.

     Welcome to Carolina Automotive Group, a business partner of RCCCC.  For those of you who may not know, Lumberton Motors -- part of the Carolina Automotive Group -- gave us their former property where we now have our offices and Home Store.  You may want to check out the pictures on the Photo Gallery link.

     We are pleased that Carolina Automotive Group believes in our work and wants to support us in this way, so feel free to check out this new link.

Our new address is 600 West 5th St. off I-95 at Exit 17!