Our Community Cares
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on August 8, 2016 1:46 PM
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Seth Combs
Officers with the Goldsboro Police Department pass out stickers to the children in attendance at the Our Community Cares Fun Day event in Goldsboro on Saturday at Lincoln Homes.
Shantaya Joyner watched as her 3-year-old son played in the sprinkler during the Our Community Cares event held Saturday in the Lincoln Homes community.
The event, which drew people from the public housing neighborhood off Poplar Street, offered a night of live music, games, food and hope.
"I really enjoyed it," Joyner said. "I think it makes us feel like the community really does care because they came out and put it together for us. They shared information and prayer."
Joyner, who took her three children to the event, said the night of fun, food and entertainment brought life into the community.
"I feel like it's a start to a small change out here," she said. "I don't know many people out there, and it gives me a chance to learn new faces from here and other communities."
Our Community Cares, through support from the Goldsboro Community Relations Department, held the event at no cost to residents. Our Community Cares is a group of people from nonprofit organizations, city government, the Goldsboro Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff's Office. Our Community Cares plans to offer similar events in different neighborhoods once every two months, said Shycole Simpson Carter, director of the Goldsboro Community Relations Department.
"I think we got our message to the community, and this won't be our last time in this community," Simpson Carter said of Lincoln Homes.
"We'll keep coming out in the community and pushing the message that our community cares and keep helping the community."
Hot dogs, chips and lemonade were served, children played in an inflatable bounce house and several officers from the Goldsboro Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff's Office were onsite. The city's fire department set up a sprinkler, and Councilmen Mark Stevens and Bill Broadaway walked through the crowds and talked with residents.
Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West and Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce were also in attendance.
"I think it was a successful event," Simpson Carter said. "We had a big turnout."
Joyner's three children had their faces painted, they had fun dancing near the main stage and the mother of three slipped under the Alpha and Omega Christian Center tent for prayer.
Joyner has lived at Lincoln Homes five years and said some of her neighbors talk about leaving area crime. In July, a 19-year-old girl was fatally shot near the intersection of Olivia Lane and Slaughter Street, right around the corner from Lincoln Homes.
"Within the last two to three months, it's gotten worse," Joyner said. "I don't like it but right now, I feel like I've got to deal with it until I can do better for my family. I feel like there's trouble wherever you go. Some people want to leave. I think it's best to be involved in the community."
Petula Jones stood by the Alpha and Omega Christian Center area where three tents were set up for counseling, advice and prayer. Jones' husband is a member of Our Community Cares. A large sign was posted offering free prayer for such things as employment, sickness, depression and finances.
"We really feel it's a need to pray for someone," Jones said. "Prayer changes things."
Sarah Taylor and her husband walked along the perimeter of the grassy lot where the event was held, in an effort to find shade on the hot summer night. Taylor, who has lived at Lincoln Homes 46 years, enjoyed the opportunity the event offered residents, especially children.
"I think it's real nice," she said. "I really do wish they would continue with things for the kids to do."
She would like to see a playground on the lot, which has a nearby basketball court, and an after-school program.
"It might give them something to think about and somewhere to go," she said.
She also wishes the neighborhood had its own resident council so new opportunities and programs could be discussed.
"We don't have anyone to talk to about our point of view," she said. "If we can get a resident council, we might be able to get some things started."
Taylor said the recent crime near the neighborhood isn't reflective of Lincoln Homes.
"Well, you know, they come from all parts of the town into the community," she said. "It's frightening, I know that. The majority of them don't live here. I don't think it's our residents.
"If they can stop that and get these boys off the corners, they would do better."