I am thrilled and deeply honored to have been featured in the September 2024 issue of Our State magazine. The article, titled “Shelter from the Storm,” captures the heart of our Filling Station mission and the resilience of our community in Jones County.
The story highlights how The Filling Station, created from a desire to ensure our neighbors could put food on their tables, became a crucial lifeline during and after Hurricane Florence in 2018. It showcases our evolution from a simple food pantry to a comprehensive community support center, offering everything from disaster relief to leadership training programs.
Key highlights from the article include:
- The rapid response to Hurricane Florence and how we became Jones County’s disaster recovery hub
- The expansion of our services to include summer camps, tutoring, and the Leadership Jones academy
- The inspiring stories of volunteers and community members who have both given and received help through our programs
- Our partnerships with local organizations like the NC Cooperative Extension provide diverse educational opportunities
- The remarkable growth in the number of households we serve, from 4,000 in 2019 to nearly 9,000 in 2023
I am grateful to Our State Magazine for spotlighting the work and our community’s incredible spirit. The article shows the power of neighbors helping neighbors and the resilience of rural communities like ours.
I invite you to read the full article to learn more about the ongoing Filling Station story.
