RALEIGH, N.C. – The member-funded SECU Foundation and the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency have teamed up to help Lumberton Christian Care (LCC), Inc. address the community’s need for a larger emergency/transitional shelter and community kitchen. State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) members, via the SECU Foundation, provided LCC with a $660,000 interest-free construction loan to help build the Lumberton facility in support of the non-profit’s mission to serve the area’s homeless population and lower income residents in a safe and modern facility.
Before relocating to the new facility, Lumberton Christian Care operated the shelter and soup kitchen out of the former Goodyear Hotel – a building that outlived its capacity to meet the increased needs of the community. The new Care Center is equipped with a commercial kitchen, along with emergency and transitional housing for single men, women and families with children. The non-profit provides residents assistance with locating employment and permanent housing, while services and support through LCC partnerships also help them transition to self-sufficiency.
“We really appreciate the construction financing from State Employees’ Credit Union members – we could not have completed the final phase of our new shelter without their help,” said Joseph Burke, President of Lumberton Christian Care Center’s Board of Trustees. “The charitable support the SECU Foundation extends to non-profits like our agency is wonderful and we are extremely grateful.”
Kristy Fields, Vice President of SECU’s Lumberton-West 5th Street branch remarked, “SECU members are pleased to be a funding partner with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency to help Lumberton Christian Care provide the homeless and hungry with a hot meal and a warm, safe place to stay. The new Care Center is a tremendous asset to the Lumberton community and Robeson County.”