J.D. Prevette, right, Paul Rogers, left, and Kathy Holt carry out donated groceries for needy families during the open house for the Rowan Helping Ministries branch office at the old Mount Ulla fire station in Mount Ulla on Saturday. by Sean Meyers/for the Salisbury Post

By Shavonne Potts

Salisbury Post

MOUNT ULLA — Nearly a week before Christmas it's time to narrow down those holiday menus.

But what if you are a single mother and you have no idea from where your children's Christmas dinner is coming?

That question was answered for dozens of families who received Christmas dinner and other food items from Rowan Helping Ministries' new west Rowan branch Saturday.

The branch is located at 781 Grampion Road at the former Mount Ulla Fire Department. The branch held a morning distribution for families in the surrounding community.

It was also the day the agency unveiled this newly refurbished location to the public. Although Saturday was open house for the agency, the location officially will open in January.

Volunteers cleared the building, repainted it, pressure-washed the floors, installed new windows and put in a new heating system.

Before the nonprofit was able to secure the location, about a dozen churches used their own facilities and provided much of the food, Rowan Helping Ministries Executive Director Dianne Scott said.

For about a year, the churches rotated the use of their facilities.

The reason for the new site, Scott explained, was that people had to drive into Salisbury for assistance.

"Most people don't realize it, but just because it's out in the county, the need is just as great," Scott said.

John Tucker, pastor of Lebanon Lutheran Church, is the task force chairman. Tucker coordinates with many of the churches and their volunteers.

When the churches began this endeavor, they helped one family. Last spring, they helped 43 families. And on Saturday they expected to give 50 families Christmas dinners.

"It's been a growing experience for us each month," Tucker said.

In the beginning, the churches put up fliers at various churches, post offices and community bulletin boards.

"It helped show the community that this church is involved in the community," he said.

Along with church volunteers there, staff members from the Salisbury branch of Rowan Helping Ministries were on hand.

Tucker said his hope is to double the Saturday and Wednesday distribution by February and distribute food four times a month.

The youth group at Back Creek Presbyterian Church consistently has provided food for the pantry.

He said the teens go to Sam's Club and buy $300 worth of food and toiletries.

Tucker said he'd like to get more churches involved.

Cynthia Rankin, of Cleveland, came to receive assistance.

"I like the program. I think it's a good program to help out the people in the community," she said.

Rankin said the new site is so much more convenient to the people who don't have transportation.

"It makes me feel good for them to be able to help us folks in this area so we don't have to travel all the way to Salisbury," said Ann Christie, of Mount Ulla.

It saves on gas, Christie added.

"It's such a blessing that God has put on to these people. They have good hearts. It's a blessing from God," she said.

Cindy Riddle, also of Cleveland, said she's thankful to have a closer place to go to for assistance.

"It's definitely a lot closer and it was really nice," she said.

Paul Rogers volunteered to distribute food along with other members from his church, Thyatira Presbyterian Church in Millbridge.

Rogers first volunteered at the Salisbury branch and learned about it through his church.

"This is wonderful. I do the physical stuff," he said.

He feels good being able to give to others.

"We probably need to do this more often," Rogers said.

Probably the youngest of the volunteers was Tucker's son, Zach, 11.

"It makes me happy to see other people smile," he said.

The younger Tucker is a student at Knox Middle School in Salisbury. His job was to help carry the groceries to cars and restock shelves.

"I'm happy to be out here," Zach said.

He was also joined by his sister Kayla, 13, and mother, Jeanne.

Marjorie Goodwine, of Woodleaf, also spent her Saturday morning volunteering.

She and other members of her church, Mount Vernon Presbyterian, helped.

This wasn't Goodwine's first time volunteering. She volunteered at the Salisbury branch for four years.

"All my life, I liked to help people. We were raised that way and it's evolved," she said.

Goodwine added that she likes to do what she can.

Friend and fellow congregant Rosetta Askew, of Cleveland, was volunteering for the first time.

Sally Morgan, left, and Janice Poteat fill boxes of donated food for needy families during the open house for the Rowan Helping Ministries branch office at the old Mount Ulla fire station in Mount Ulla on Saturday. by Sean Meyers/for the Salisbury Post

"I've been saying for a long time I was coming. It's a nice experience," she said.

Askew said she wished more people would volunteer.

The goal is to eventually offer assistance through vouchers that can be written for specific agencies.

For instance, if a family needs help with their utility bill, the agency would be able to issue the voucher made out to the utility company.

Another goal is to link the Salisbury branch database to the new branch so information for the people being helped will be accessible via a laptop.

The information would be obtained from the Rowan County Department of Social Services, Salvation Army and Rowan Helping Ministries. In addition to providing food, organizers said they'd like to be able to give clothing.

For more information about Rowan Helping Ministries, or for a distribution, call the Salisbury branch at 704-637-6838.

Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.