Chadbourn has seen its share of ups and down over the last year or so, but a grassroots non-profit is trying to make a difference in the lives of the residents there.
The H.E.A.R.T.S. (Helping Everyone Achieve Rewards Toward Success) Foundation is a group of everyday people who made a commitment to help improve the lives of others within Columbus County and surrounding communities. Their main goal is to give back to the less fortunate in any way possible.
Founder LaShoney Frink says it feels good to give back to the town.
“Chadbourn has so much going on. I’m glad we can be that positive spark in the community,” Frink said.
Frink is a social worker for Columbus County Schools. She was recently been recognized by the town of Chadbourn with a Certificate of Appreciation. The organization alone won the Columbus County Outstanding Volunteer Service Award in 2017.
H.E.A.R.T.S has already made a huge impact by way of donation and food drives.
The organization has supplied Chadbourn with coats, canned foods, and organized an “Off-to-College” care package giveaway where five freshmen were gifted a fully loaded laundry basket of sundries, blankets, supplies, and personal hygiene products.
Three families are also sponsored every year for Thanksgiving and provided everything they need to make a feast for the special day.
The foundation’s most memorable accomplishment thus far is the Back-to-School supply drive. H.E.A.R.T.S. gave out over 500 backpacks and hundreds of school supplies to the Columbus County Foster Care Unit for all the children in custody with active cases.
More events are in the making for 2022. Dates for a community Easter egg hunt, a community campout for school-aged children, and a school supply drive will be announced soon.
H.E.A.R.T.S. hopes to continue to bring positive changes on a local and global scale by building up communities close by and across the world. The foundation is a small group of people working together for the betterment of under privileged youth and poverty ridden neighborhoods, Frink said.
If you are a church, business owner, political or government leader, or just the average Joe who would like to help out, you can contact Frink at 910.625.1745. For monetary donations, checks should be made out to the H.E.A.R.T.S. Foundation, and mailed to 247 Dessie Road, Chadbourn, N.C. 28431.
