Giving out the basics
By John Joyce
Published in News on April 1, 2015 2:03 PM
The goal was to promote awareness and community cohesiveness.
Four graduate students from East Carolina University came to Goldsboro Saturday to pair with the HDGC Community Crisis Center, 607 S. Slocumb St., and The Bridge Church for some community outreach.
The students -- one of whom lives and works in Goldsboro -- are working toward their master's degrees in social work.
Saturday's event was the brain child of Candra Hill, 27.
She and her fellow students were placed into a group and tasked to come up with a project that would impact a community. They chose Goldsboro due to the high number of low-income families and higher concentration of crime in those areas.
"We performed a needs assessment working with Wayne Community College, the Department of Social Services and with the residents of Goldsboro," Ms. Hill said.
Johnathan Bronson, 33, of Wilson, works in mental health in Tarboro. Teresa Peedin and Ann Kearny work in job placement and with Hospice.
The three of them, along with Ms. Hill, decided to put together hygiene packets for the homeless in Goldsboro and to pass them out at the crisis center during this year's Spring Fling, an annual event at the crisis center sponsored by The Bridge.
Adeen George, crisis center director, was impressed with the student's efforts.
"We look forward to this event every year," she said.
More than 200 people showed up to receive free hot dogs, chili, chips, hot chocolate, lemonade and coffee.
A coloring station and face painting stations were set up for children, along with the bouncy house that was never vacant.
"In the future we hope this expands to maybe do some resume training." Ms. Hill said.
Bronson said he was concerned about the mental health care in the community leading to higher arrest rates. He said it was important to reach children early on in life.
"We want them to know they are not being judged or stereotyped, that we are not just out here for ourselves," he said.
Collection boxes have been set up in the community to accept donations to help fund future events like the one held Saturday.
Ms. Hill said it is important the community take on the responsibility of continuing the outreach work done by the crisis center and The Bridge.
"This is somewhere where anyone can come in off the street and take a shower. That's why we did the hygiene packets," she said.
Each packet included a tooth brush and tooth paste, mouthwash and soap, a towel and comb or a brush.
Snack packs were also made available to anyone who asked for one.
Other needs identified by the assessment conducted by the group will be more difficult to tackle. Among them are transitional housing, the potential for more jobs and positive activities for kids, Ms. Hill said.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the program can contact Mrs. George at the Crisis Community Center by calling 919-734-6836.