Carolina United for Change holds MLK Day shelter drive

Jan. 16—HENDERSON

For Henderson-based nonprofit Carolina United for Change on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day centered on community service.

Founded by Joseph Brodie last summer, Carolina United for Change is still relatively new on the local scene, but features familiar faces like Brodie and board member Angela Thornton.

"We're a new organization," Thornton said, "but we are a busy one."

In honor of the holiday, Monday's mission was to collect donations for local homeless shelters including Lifeline Outreach of Henderson.

By mid-afternoon, a Carolina United for Change trailer that was set up outside of Perry Memorial Library was loaded with boxes of non-perishables and other supplies.

"Wonderful," Brodie said of the response. "People have really reached out here in the community, starting earlier this morning when we first started at 10 o'clock. We're still receiving donations out here. We received a large donation, a truck full of items to go to Lifeline Ministries."

Last July, Brodie told The Dispatch the nonprofit's mission is to "fight against discrimination, feed the hungry and help students in need." At the time, Carolina United for Change had just established a scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College for minority students.

Since then, Brodie's bunch sponsored foster children for Christmas, and Monday marked the organization's second shelter drive. They expect fundraisers like this one to be a monthly norm.

Monday's outreach coincided with the holiday commemorating the life of America's most well-known civil rights leader. Brodie stopped to reflect on what he remembered about King's life and though he was only 11 by the time King was murdered in 1968, the Carolina United for Change president recalled the tension that ensued, even locally in Henderson.

"A lot of violence was going on," Brodie said of the nationwide reaction. "People just took it out on whoever they could when he was assassinated."

It was an expression of grief and outrage over the loss of King, who had been a steadfast advocate for justice, peace and the integration of cultures in America.

Unity is exactly what Carolina United for Change strives to foster.

"We're non-politically affiliated, so we welcome everyone," Thornton said. "We just try to make a difference in our community."

"We just want to make the community better," Thornton added, "for those in need."