On the right path
Sharing our successes with the communities we serve.
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Links, Inc. & Zeta Phi Beta donate $15,700 to Food Bank |
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Cyshell Williams-Grandham, president of the Gamma Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., left, and Cindy White, president of the Fayetteville Chapter of Links, Incorporated, right, presented Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank Director David Griffin with a $15,700.70 donation during a ceremony on April 10. |
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The Fayetteville Chapter of Links, Incorporated and the Gamma Epsilon Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. joined together to raise $15,700.70 for Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank in April.
Links, Incorporated is a nonprofit organization made up of professional women of African descent. The group works to ensure the financial and cultural survival of African-Americans and others of African descent.
"We were trying to think of ways we could be most impactful, and we recognize that food insecurity exists," said Maria Adams of the Fayetteville Chapter of Links. "Food insecurity, of course, will even possibly be around after this pandemic, but this pandemic has laid bare the need for folks in the community– loss of jobs, kids are needing more food at home because they're not in school."
So, when researching a cause to support, the ladies of Links, Incorporated found that Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) not only provides food from its warehouse on Deep Creek Road in Fayetteville, but also supplies food for pantries throughout a seven-county region.
"We recognize their stretch in the community, and we recognize that we should be a part of what they're doing for the greater good of our community," Adams said. "Food is such a basic need."
Doris Shipman, a member of the Action Pathways Board of Directors and Links, Incorporated, said, "The $15,700.70 donation to SHFB will provide 75,000 meals to those that otherwise might not have any food to eat."
Adams said she reached out to the local chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., to help raise even more money for the food bank.
As a result, the sorority raised an additional $2,000 to the $13,700.70 that Links had raised.
Cyshell Williams-Grandham, president of the sorority's Fayetteville chapter, joined Links, Incorporated's local chapter president, Cindy White, in presenting a check to SHFB Director David Griffin during a ceremony on April 10.
In accepting the donation, Griffin said, "So many of those that we serve in Southeastern North Carolina are going through [food insecurity]. I want people to understand that it's not about me, it's not about anybody that works in the food bank. It's about the child that's sitting at the table that the mother didn't have cereal, but had milk, or didn't have milk but had cereal. There's a senior, right here in Southeastern North Carolina right now, that's going to the grocery store to buy a little can of dog food to eat. Think about that."
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Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank
celebrates National Guard troops
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Members of the N.C. National Guard were honored during an appreciation event at Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina on April 12. |
The National Guard troops were treated to a free meal from Doug's BBQ as part of the event.
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Action Pathways CEO Lonnie Ballard. |
Second Harvest Food Bank Director David Griffin. |
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During some of the toughest times our nation has faced, the N.C. National Guard stepped in to help Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank continue to provide millions of meals throughout Southeast North Carolina.
From March 2020 through March 2021, National Guard troops worked at the food bank, helping stock food at the warehouse and staffing numerous drive-thru food distribution events throughout the seven-county coverage area.
"I'm just so thankful for all you've done," Food Bank Director David Griffin told the team members during an appreciation ceremony on April 12. "This group provided 6 million pounds of food and about 5 million meals."
Griffin also pointed out that during this timeframe, no one on the National Guard team or the Food Bank staff contracted COVID-19.
Although COVID-19 has presented many challenges, Action Pathways CEO Lonnie Ballard said that the pandemic also elevated the visibility of food insecurity, especially in the areas served by Second Harvest Food Bank.
"We were in a debt with regard to mass distributions, having enough volunteers," Ballard said. "[Working with the National Guard] allowed us to be able to serve the community in a way that provided dignity and honor."
Ballard recalled that the Food Bank's first mass distribution during the pandemic, at the Crown Complex in Fayetteville, really brought the issues--and the victories--to light.
The April 12 event included a meal for the National Guard members who worked with the Food Bank, as well as special recognition and a ceremony.
"This has been the most rewarding experience of my military career," said Captain Phanat Senesourinh, U.S. Air Force. "I can't say enough about Mr. Ballard, Mr. David [Griffin], and the entire Food Bank and Action Pathways team."
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National Guard Officer Hunter Maynor and Second Harvest Food Bank Director David Griffin served cake to the troops and volunteers. |
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Carlotta Murphy
1973-2021
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Action Pathways Board of Directors mourns loss of one of its members |
Carlotta Elaine Murphy, a member of the Action Pathways, Inc. Board of Directors, passed away on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at the age of 47.
Ms. Murphy joined the Action Pathways Board of Directors in 2017. During her tenure, she served in various leadership roles including Board Secretary, Parliamentarian, and served as chairperson on various board committees.
"As a community action advocate, her personal and professional contributions have elevated the quality of life of citizens in the Cumberland and Sampson County communities," stated Board Chairman Glenn Adams. "We are honored and blessed to have served alongside her. Ms. Murphy’s legacy will live on through the many lives she touched."
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Action Pathways Head Start staff work to achieve required standards as pandemic rages on |
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Action Pathways Head Start continues to conduct required screenings during the ongoing pandemic. |
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Action Pathways Head Start has continued to meet the same Head Start Performance Standards this year as in any other year, even though we remain in the midst of a pandemic. These Head Start Performance Standards require all students to receive vision screenings, hearing screenings, growth assessments, blood pressure checks for children over age 3, and social-emotional and developmental screenings.
This was accomplished through a team effort under the leadership of Cathy Haynes, Family Services Supervisor, Jameisha Brown, Family Services Supervisor, Susan Torres Alicea, Family Services Supervisor EHS-CCP, Tiffany Reed, Assistant Manager EHS-CCP, Brenda Pleasents’ team of Special Needs Assistants, and Paige Baker, EHS-CCP Nurse.
In addition, they have been supported in this effort by the team of bus drivers and custodians led by Ms. Phyllis Snow.
The team completed 28 screening days between October 2020 and March 2021, with a total of 577 children screened. "Their dedication is to be commended," said Rojalyn Phillips, Head Start Assistant Director for Support Services. "By ensuring that our children are screened in a timely manner, this will lead to better outcomes for our children. We can follow up on any concerns if children fail screenings and get children the needed services they need in a timely manner to promote each child's health and well-being by supporting families in getting the care they need, even during a pandemic."
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May is Community Action Month |
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Join the Equity Challenge! |
The North Carolina Community Action Association (NCCAA) is celebrating Community Action Month in May with a 21-day challenge inviting the public to better understand and support a culture of equity.
Community Action Month highlights the successes of the Community Action Network.
Community action agencies connect millions of children and families to greater opportunities, transform their lives and make our communities—and our nation—stronger.
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The Equity Starts Here challenge is a four-week educational initiative to guide participants in learning more about equity, how it applies to the community, and how they can apply the term to their own lives. Each day of the challenge, participants will receive an email with that day’s topic, learning material, and discussion questions. The challenge will run each Monday through Friday throughout the month of May.
Further details can be found in the press release at this link.
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ACTION PATHWAYS, INC. | actionpathways.ngo |
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