Grateful Heart Community Services, East Spencer gives food, clothing to families

Published 12:00 am Sunday, August 28, 2016

By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

EAST SPENCER — Christine Evans is raising her four-year-old grandson and sometimes it’s hard to make ends meet. Evans, a member of Rhema Praise and Worship Church, braved the 90-plus degree temperature Saturday to stand in line so that her grandson could get some school supplies.

She attended the annual Help Fair organized by Grateful Heart Community Services, a faith-based nonprofit, aligned with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte and the Feeding America program in order to serve the greater Rowan County area. The organization was able to provide food, cleaning supplies, toys and other items to families in need.

The town of East Spencer provided backpacks and school supplies for those families for its annual Back to School Bash.

Evans raised five sons and is now “starting all over,” to raise her grandson.

“I thank God for them. I’m grateful,” she said of organizers.

The native of the U.S. Virgin Islands came to the area after Hurricane Hugo struck in 1989.

“They do a great job, especially for those that really need it,” Evans said.

Darnell McGee, a member of Grateful Heart Ministries, said it’s awesome the community could come together to provide for area families. He would love for area organizations like Grateful Heart to be able to give back to the community more often.

McGee said he not only attended the event, but told others about it including his former co-worker Stephen Daniel and Gabrielle Koontz, who together have a 7-month-old daughter, Evie.

“I think it’s really wonderful,” McGee said.

“It’s making sure people who don’t have nothing, get something,” Koontz said.

The organization expected to serve an average of 150 to 165 families, which each family getting four bags of food.

“This is only the beginning of what can happen at Royal Giants Park,” Mayor Barbara Mallett said.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.