SNAP benefits have been restored, but the need for food to feed families is not going away.
“With the holidays, there will always be a need and this is making it more critical. The need is still going to be there for quite awhile,” Kendra Martin, executive director of the Lee County United Way, said earlier this week.
That was before the government shutdown ended Thursday. On Friday, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program began restoring funds for its clients.
Teresa Dew Kelly, executive director of the Christians United Outreach Center of Lee County, said Thursday that the ministry’s work would continue, regardless.
“We were proceeding on, no matter what,” she said.
Kelly held that position until she left CUOC in 2024 to take a job as executive director with the Central and Eastern NC Food Bank in Southern Pines. She returned to the Lee County outreach program in July.
CUOC saw an increase in the number of clients it supports during the six-week shutdown, but donations rose with the approaching holidays.
“In October, we fed 868 families. That’s 145 more families this year than last year,” she said. “Food boxes fed about 3,100 individuals.”
The ministry also provides weekend food for 520 students each week through its Backpack Pals program.
The ministry received a lift this year with a donation of $50,000 from the Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands Trust that will be used to match all donations up to $50,000, Kelly said.
CUOC is open Mondays from 4-6 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m.
The United Way program fills the same need for families and serves about 5,085 clients, Martin said.
Anyone wanting to donate food can bring items to the office at 507 N. Steele St., Martin said, or call 919-776-5823.
United Way of North Carolina can also provide assistance through a free, confidential and multilingual health and human services system.
NC 211 is offered in all the state’s 100 counties.
Those in need of food, housing and more can find help by calling United Way’s 2-1-1 (or 1-888-892-1162) or by visiting nc211.org.
