'I know what it's like to be overlooked': Fayetteville woman lends a helping hand to homeless

Trisha James said she experienced homelessness for about a decade. Now, the Fayetteville activist leads a local nonprofit that helps people in need.

Since starting Serving Hope in 2010, James, 42, said she’s touched the lives of thousands. With the help of about 20 volunteers, James gives out free hot meals every other Sunday on North Eastern Boulevard, operates a food pantry, organizes free family events and distributes holiday meals and gifts.

James said Serving Hope helps people with whatever they may need— providing money to help people struggling with rent and utility bills, repair their cars or replace broken appliances.

“We try to get to the root of the issue,” she said Monday. “We gather members of the community together and we do what we can to assist people.”

James, who owns and operates Power of One Landscaping & Maintenance, said she was able to find financial stability and happiness after a childhood spent with abusive foster parents, experiencing homelessness as a runaway teenager, surviving an abusive romantic relationship into her mid-20s and battling depression.

Those experiences, she said, make her better equipped to help others with similar challenges.

“I know what it’s like to be overlooked,” James said. “It takes more than a degree and book knowledge to understand and connect.”

She said that she hopes her efforts show people that a better life is possible and offer a reprieve from their everyday struggles. A home-cooked meal, a bicycle under the Christmas tree or just a sympathetic ear can make all the difference, she said.

James said that with more than 14 years of service in the community, she doesn't plan to change her ways anytime soon.

"For me, this is life," she said. "This is what I love and I’ll never stop doing this."

'I have never ever met anyone like her'

One Fayetteville woman said she wouldn’t be where she is today without James’ help.

Karen Cost, 45, said she met James about a decade ago through a mutual friend. At that time, Cost, a mother of three, was living in Athens, Georgia, and had lost everything in an apartment fire. A few years prior, she had gone through a divorce and both of her parents died, she said.

James helped Cost get her life back in order after the fire, Cost said, including getting her and her kids into a hotel and helping them find a new place to rent.

When Cost’s children were out of school for the summer, she said, James drove down to Georgia and took care of them while Cost worked. James’ mentorship and tutoring helped her children go from failing grades to earning A’s and helped Cost work through the summer, keeping a roof over her children's heads, she said.

Because of her past, Cost said, she kept James at a distance for years.

“I had a fence up because I had been hurt by so many people,” she said. “Here was this lady, who knows nothing about me, sending me money and making sure I got lights and water and food.”

Once James shared her own story with Cost, the two grew closer, Cost said.

“She’s an amazing person,” Cost said. “I have never, ever met anyone like her.”

Eventually, in 2017, Cost and her children moved to Fayetteville for a fresh start, and to help James continue her community outreach.

Now, seven years later, Cost said she’s proud of the stability she has achieved, and she, too, wants to help others do the same.

“I’ve had a lot of firsts,” she said. “I want someone else to have a lot of firsts.”

How to get involved at Serving Hope

To volunteer or get help from Serving Hope, contact James via email at servinghope.trisha@gmail.com, by phone at 910-257-6131 or online at bewell.works. Food donations can be dropped off at the food pantry at 1627 Bingham Drive.

Food, dining and culture reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com or on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Serving Hope nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC helps locals in need