Food Lion Feeds awards $20,000 to help CUOC

Apr. 27—Taming hunger is Lee County is a difficult task, but Food Lion Feeds helped a local non-profit that has been helping those in need for several decades with a sizable donation Thursday.

Christians United Outreach Center received $20,000 from Food Lions Feeds to help increase its capacity to provide more food to food-insecure residents of Lee County. The funding enabled CUOC to install a new sprinkler system, a necessary safety improvement. The funding will help CUOC serve more people. In Lee County, statistics show a child poverty rate of 22%. CUOC plays a significant role in the distribution and access to food for children and families impacted by food insecurity.

After a brief ceremony, Food Lion associated and other volunteers helped restock the shelves at CUOC, delivering more than 1,400 pounds of food. The food included individual cereals, pop-top spaghetti and meatballs, shelf stable milk and macaroni and cheese cups. The items will be used to prepare 500 backpacks distributed across 22 schools in Lee County. CUOC provides bags of food for students at risk who receive free or reduced meal plans. They average 325 bags per week.

After a prayer from CUOC Board Chair Nancy Johnson, Teresa Kelly, former CUOC executive director who is now with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, spoke about the importance of the donation and the agency's work.

"We bought this building about 15 years ago," she said. "We were renting it and ended up buying it. There was a lot of work to be done on the building. Over the years, we had been able to do a few things and expanded our food ministry. At the 15-year mark, we paid this building off. Food Lion has had a big impact. We've been a partner with them for many years."

Kelly spoke about a recent event in Raleigh that included more than 300 volunteers from Food Lion.

"I think there were a thousand people there and there was a seas of blue," she said. "We go back a long way with them. But they've stepped up over the years and done more than just food. They see a greater need. As they see agencies like CUOC with buildings — old buildings like this — they see a lot of other needs that come to the table besides food. Food Lion saw the need and there was a grant available."

Kelly said to update the building, CUOC had to update the fire protection system.

"When we started pricing that, for a non-profit agency to have to come up with forty-some thousand dollars, that's a lot of money away from the needs of the community," she said. "I want to say thank you on behalf of CUOC and on behalf of The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. We can't do what we do without cooperation like this to be able to meet those needs. Infrastructure is a huge portion of that."

Lee County Commissioner Bill Carver also offered words of thanks to both Food Lion and CUOC.

"I think we're finding lately that there is a lot of need out there," he said. "The pressure is increasing. When I think about what impact non-profits make in our community — in a county like Lee County — how could we possibly write a budget from the government that could meet the contributions that all of the non-profits make? We never could. It's a calling, where we want to meet the needs of our county. It makes a difference. It not only brings glory to God, but it helps people who are in need at a particular moment."

Local Food Lion Store Manager Scott Douglas said they as an entity were glad to help the community they serve.

"At Food Lion, we believe no one should choose between dinner or rent or gas and groceries," he said. "That's why we are helping address hunger in the towns and cities we serve. We're very proud to bring a check for $20,000 to CUOC. In addition to that, we're delivering 1,400 pounds of food. Which we'll gather and distribute later."

Sanford City Councilman Charles Taylor, a CUOC board member, also spoke about the donation and the role of CUOC in the community. He spoke about how Food Lion founder Ralph Ketner, who died in 2016, had set an example by donating to the communities his stores were located in.

"His principals still remain," Taylor said.

Taylor spoke about the programs of CUOC and their importance in the community.

"Our Backpack Pals program alone will cost between $115,000 and $130,000 for eight months," he said. "In the summer, we'll be feeding 1,050 kids."

He spoke about Keeners efforts to help communities and shared excerpts from a book about him. He spoke about CUOC's partnerships and how they are needed.

CUOC Executive Director Elizabeth Colebrook was also grateful for the funds and the volunteers.

"We really appreciate the continued support," she said. "There's a different feeling and sense of wellbeing that I have felt at CUOC because we have such a community behind us."

Colebrook recognized her staff and the many volunteers and donors as the event to mark the donation closed.

"Just remember that as you leave here today, as you go and serve this community, do it with love and compassion and goodness." Colebrook said.