FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER
Dee Long
TARBORO —
Fresh on the heels of the Movin’ for Community Outreach 5k and 1M run, the Christian Fellowship Circle of St. James United Methodist Church has joined the list of groups helping the ministry of Tarboro Community Outreach (TCO).
TCO is a non-profit agency, which has served needy families and individuals of Edgecombe County since its founding in 1982.
TCO gives support to people in need of shelter, food, or clothing, operating a 26-man homeless shelter as well as a home that provides temporary housing for displaced families, women and children.
“The Tarboro Community Outreach building is non-profit. Every day a hot meal is served for those who cannot afford food.” Assistant director Johnnie Ray Speight said, “The money given by people in the community is used for paying for the white take-out trays, buying food for the Soup Kitchen Program, helping people in need of gas, food, clothes and especially medical funds, to pay the light bill at the Men’s Center, Women’s Center and for so much more. It takes so much.”
Among its busiest programs, TCO’s kitchen facility serves more than 350 meals each weekday for those seeking and in need of healthy, prepared meals. The kitchen also serves as a training area for shelter residents who perform volunteer duties to assist in running the program.
TCO’s pantry redistributes canned goods and perishable foods to those who are experiencing hunger, helping more than 400 households per month. Recipients help with food distribution, which helps them maintain a sense of dignity when receiving free food.
Tarboro Community Outreach also maintains a warehouse area where clothing and household items can be donated and distributed to those in need either for free or at a cost of 10 cents per item.
If you or your organization would like to help provide for the less fortunate, you may get more information by calling 823-9901 or visiting TCO at 701 Cedar Lane.
