Up & Coming Weekly

August 16, 2022

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 17 - 23, 2022 UCW 15 EVENT Be the Change: United Way holds kick off, meal packing event by ALYSON HANSEN United Way of Cumberland County will be holding their second annual meal packing event Aug. 25 at Snyder Baptist Memorial Church. During the event, volunteers will be pack- ing 35,000 meal packets which will then be donated to Fayetteville Urban Ministries and Catholic Charities USA, both local organizations that help homeless and needy people in Cumberland County. Melissa Reid, director of resource development with United Way Cumberland County, said she is ex- cited about the event. "In the past when we've had a campaign kick off, it was a sit-down type of event. Last year when we were able to get back to it after COVID, we decided we needed to do something different," she said. "Instead of every- one sitting there listing to people talk, we wanted to do something hands on because that's what we are about, helping the community." United Way's mission is to "improve the quality of lives in Cumberland County by addressing critical human needs," according to their website. e meal packing event is one of the ways Reid hopes to be able to carry out that mission. Last year was the first time United Way held a meal packing event. In the two hours they had allotted for volunteers, they packed 26,000 meal packets. e meal packets were then distributed to Fayetteville Urban Ministries. "I reached out to Johnny at Urban Ministries a few months ago and I said, 'did you all use the packets we gave to you last year?' And he said yes … It took about two months, all the meal packets were gone by the end of October. at tells you right there the need," Reid said. is year, she was able to secure a grant for funds for even more meal packets. Reid hopes to pack up 35,000 packets with the more than 200 volunteers needed for the event. ose interested in volunteering for the event can sign up at https://www. unitedway-cc.org/. "PWC signed up for 25 individu- als," said Reid. "e town of Hope Mills weren't a part of it last year, but I spoke to the mayor, Jackie Warner, and she said the town was going to be involved this year. It's a great team building event, that is what Kelly Wal- lace with Beasley told me last year." Athletes from Fayetteville Techni- cal Community College volunteered their time last year and are planning on coming back again. "Last year, the diversity in the room was amazing. Different races, differ- ent financial backgrounds. We had some CEOS and stay-at-home moms, youths. Firemen, policemen. e city of Fayetteville really showed up last year, it was really heart warming." Reid also said she likes to make the event fun with hand clappers, beach balls and pom poms. "Last year, I tried to start the wave," she joked. e meal packing event will take place at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ose interested in volunteering should visit the United Way website. Reid said for those who can't volunteer but would still like to help, there is a "donate" button on the website. "Be the change," she said, echoing the 2022-23 campaign slogan. "Come in here and help your community." ALYSON HANSEN, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. (910) 484-6200 AUGUST 20TH 2022 7:00 PM 2990 SUNNYSIDE SCHOOL RD. FAYETTEVILLE , NC 28312 844-622-FARM BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW AT WWW.SWEETVALLEYRANCHNC.COM SEARCH "MUSIC AT THE FARM" ON FACEBOOK Indian Outlaw with MUSIC AT THE FARM

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