By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
The Celebration
Religious Community Services is celebrating its 2nd annual Gala on Saturday, August 24th at 6:00pm at the Maola Center. This year’s event features a formal dress masquerade ball theme, auction, and live music with the talented Bridge Atlantic and Erika Butters! Tickets are on sale now at rcsnewbern.com. The proceeds from the gala support their mission to provide critical shelter services for individuals afflicted with homelessness and food insecurity in Craven, Pamlico, and Jones Counties. The event is generously sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, TPI, John and Maria Cho, Baxter Family Eye Care and CarolinaEast Health System.
The History & Mission
RCS began with Sister Angela Mary Parker serving soup from her station wagon in the Five Points community in 1982. That spark led to the creation of RCS with the support of Dr. William Hunt of Christ Episcopal Church, Pastor Johnson of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, and many other individuals who shaped the vision of what the organization has become today.
“Our second annual gala is coming up on Saturday, August 24th and we are excited to have an event where sponsors, donors, and all people who love RCS come together and support the mission of building, empowering, and engaging those who need us most,” says Krishanda Jones, Interim Executive Director. “A hundred percent of the proceeds from the Gala will assist Religious Community Services in carrying out the vision of providing clothing, shelter, and food for those in need. We welcome you to come and support a wonderful cause!”
The revenue from the gala funds programs such as a clothing boutique, crisis shelters, as well as a community kitchen which is open seven days a week. On average, 100-120 people are served daily in the RCS community kitchen. RCS is also a partner with the New Bern Food Bank and in their retail donation program. Local grocery stores such as Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly, and more donate food and produce. With this support and volunteer help, these programs–including the kitchen, shelters, food pantry, and operation outpost–were able to contribute 600,000 pounds of food back into the community.
“We want to remove barriers for individuals that need support. Having reliable transportation to RCS can be one of them,” said Matt McCotter, Director of Development and Mission Advancement. “To combat this, Operation Outpost was launched in March of 2021. If people cannot reach our doors, we will bring food and clothing to them through satellite locations in Havelock, Harlow, Pamlico, and Bridgeton.”
RCS has a staff of sixteen, and alongside their work, the organization also has a massive team of volunteers. 70 percent of all their programs are supported by some amazing volunteers and in 2023 they contributed over 38,000 hours.
RCS is almost exclusively funded by the community with no federal or state monies, with all financial obligations paid by private foundations, grants, and local donations. With this support, last year RCS provided over $52,000 in rent and utility assistance, provided 14,074 nights in their shelters, served 113,520 meals from their food programs, and helped 3,680 individuals in their Operation Outpost program.
Leadership
RCS is currently under the leadership of three individuals: Krishanda Royal- Jones, Antonio Molina and Matt McCotter.
Krishanda, who is the Interim Executive Director for Religious Community Services says, “I have been in the nonprofit sector for many years and have been employed with RCS for over three years. It has been an honor to serve great people in this community and be able to build and maintain partnerships in Craven and surrounding counties. Although my education is in Clinical Counseling, it has been a blessing to commit time with those affected by homelessness.”
Director of Business Affairs & Compliance, Antonio Molina is a graduate of the Citadel College of Charleston. He also served in the United States Marine Corps working as a senior leader in communications. With his dedication to empowering permanent life change and building supportive communities, Tony is committed to ensuring that RCS operates with excellence and compassion. He works on the best way to allocate RCS’s resources and ensures that RCS is equipped to serve those in need with the highest level of efficiency and care.
Director of Development & Mission Advancement, Matt McCotter, grew up in Arapahoe, NC. He joined the RCS team last fall and has been over the moon to be a part of such a phenomenal organization. An ECU graduate and pirate by heart he has been in the marketing field and working with non-profits for over seven years. He works closely with volunteers, planning fundraiser campaigns and events, fostering holistic connections, and marketing to all on how RCS serves the community at large.
The Birthday Kit – An Operation Outpost Connection
Vice President of the RCS Board of Directors, Amy Heidt, tells a childhood story that carried into one of the programs:
“You would think I would remember the gifts I received or the birthday parties I had…but I don’t. What I do remember is making my birthday cake with my Mom. I have a memory of when I was probably five years old, braids on either side of my head. I was wearing a blue sweater. I was licking the beaters in our pine-paneled kitchen. I even remember our orange countertops!”
“I was determined to bring a memory like this to the children served by Religious Community Services. I wanted them to know that they are worthy to be celebrated. That is how #ShareTheJoy was born. I approached the Board of Directors at the next meeting and told them about my idea to bring birthday cake kits to children at Operation Outpost! I asked them all to donate what they could so we could make a few kits and see how it went.”
“The first time we had cake kits at Operation Outpost, I asked a guy who looked like he had a long day and was in a beat-up pickup truck if he had any children. He told me he had six. I asked if any of the children were going to have a birthday in the next 30 days and his face turned to one of shock. He said ‘Today is my daughter’s birthday.’ He forgot! I got a birthday cake kit & handed it to him. He had tears in his eyes, as did I. I will never forget that man.”
“He is exactly why #ShareTheJoy is needed. The people coming through our lines at Operation Outpost are experiencing food insecurity and a birthday cake is considered a luxury. I truly believe everyone is worth celebrating because we all are equal, we are all the same. I am determined to give as many children as possible the opportunity to make wonderful memories with their families.”
The goal of RCS is to provide to people in the community holistically, not just for their basic critical needs, but by recognizing what they bring to the table as human beings—because we all bring something of value.