A theater fill-up
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on March 29, 2018 5:50 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Patty Graham, United Way community engagement director, and volunteer Cornelia Grundmeier help Sherrie Edwards load a donation from the Epsilon Phi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha onto a cart to be wheeled into the Paramount Theatre Wednesday for day one of the United Way's Fill the Theatre Food Drive. Donations will be accepted through 7 p.m. Thursday.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Non-perishable food items line the seats in one of the rows of the Paramount Theatre Wednesday. The United Way hopes to be able to get enough food to cover the 500 seats on the main floor and balcony.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
With the center seats almost filled the volunteers and staff from United Way will begin to put food in the seats on the outside of the theater and in the balcony. When seats are full they will begin again in the middle.
By 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, six rows of seats at the Paramount Theatre were already filled with nonperishable food items and hygiene and cleaning supplies.
And it was just the first day of United Way of Wayne County's fundraiser, Fill-The-Theatre, which started Wednesday and continues today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"It's a food drive, but we're accepting nonperishable food items, as well as personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies," said United Way community engagement director Patty Graham. "It is benefiting several food pantries in the area, as well as the shelters. And they could use some different items than you would get at a food pantry."
She said first thing Wednesday morning, there were large donations from St. Francis Episcopal Church, Sunrise Kiwanis, Three Eagles Rotary Club and the sheriff's office.
But a lot of donations were from individuals, who brought in several bags of items. They brought them in plastic bags, paper bags and boxes.
Several groups had reserved a seat to fill, including SPX Flow, Girl Scouts, Wayne Country Day School, Sunrise Kiwanis, Georgia Pacific, St. Stephen's Church and Haithcock, Barfield, Hulse and Kinsey.
The idea for the fundraiser came about after United Way director Steve Parr had seen it up north. Then Graham read a story about children who get reduced or free lunches at school not having access to food when they are off school.
Graham said if each person in Wayne County would just drop off one item, the theater would be filled.
"There are bags in there with just two or three things in them," she said. "And then there are bags that are packed to the rim. But every bag counts. We're trying to fill 500 seats."
Helping to do that was Kathy Combs, who dropped off spaghetti, fruit and vegetables in cans Wednesday.
"I read about it and I know there's a lot of people in need," she said. "I thought I would do a little something because I can. I think this is a great idea, and I was happy to help."
Selena Worrell, vice president of Worrell Contracting Co. Inc., wants to give back to her community whenever she can.
That's why she rallied the company's employees to bring in items.
"I rounded up everybody in our office and said we have to get together and get some things," Worrell said. "Everybody pitched in and brought things. We probably had 10 grocery bags of items. I know it's needed because next week the kids will be out of school and there's going to be a great, great need. It does my heart good to help."
Enjiah Pace, 17, a member of Goldsboro Youth Council, helped the group fill a big box with items for the fundraiser. In addition to that, he took in two bags on his own.
"I just want to give back," he said. "It feels good to give back."
Cornelia Grundmeier filled a dual role Wednesday at the Paramount. She dropped off 10 bags of food on behalf of herself and her husband, Kevin. They will filled with pastas, meats, vegetables, pancake mix, cereals and condiments like catsup and mustard.
"We got some items from Lidl in Wilson because they had some really good specials so we were able to get more bang for the buck," she said. "Also, Harris Teeter had some specials for canned vegetables. We decided to pick up a bunch of stuff."
After dropping off her items, Grundmeier stayed until 7 p.m. as a United Way volunteer to help take donations. She is also volunteering to help today.
"We're trying to support the local charities," she said. "I know there's a very large need out there. Our motto is, 'If you can, you should share,'"
Sherry Archibald, director of the Paramount and Goldsboro Events Center, said it was a good partnership between United Way and the theater.
"To think about all the different organizations we're going to be able to benefit is awesome," she said.
Town Hall in Mount Olive is another drop-off point for the fundraiser.
After the fundraiser is over Thursday, anyone still wanting to make a donation can go to United Way's website, Wayne.org or Volunteerwayne.org. There is also a list of local organizations and items they need throughout the year.
"This community's known for pitching in and helping each other," Graham said. "And this just proves it."