For Community Crossroads Center, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is an important day for its residents and shelter operations. 

The center will be launching its fourth annual fundraising campaign on Nov. 28 in celebration of Giving Tuesday, a “global day of giving” that encourages people to give to organizations that positively impact the community.

“Giving Tuesday is our largest fundraiser. We rely on these donations to fund our operations here. These funds allow us to continue to provide a safe, warm shelter for the homeless,” said Charles Young, executive director of CCC.

In the past, Giving Tuesday has raised thousands of dollars in donations that help fund the shelter’s daily operations. In 2022, CCC raised over $100,000 thanks to the generosity of both individuals and businesses in the community alike.

Each year, the center is sustained by the donations of private groups and individual donors that make up approximately 80% of the center’s annual budget, while only 20% is funded by government-sponsored grants. 

“Donations typically go way down after the Christmas Holidays, so these funds carry us for several months,” Young explained.

This year, Young says CCC has set a goal of $90,000 for its annual giving day campaign, which will be open to donations until Dec. 31.   

In an effort to encourage donations, community sponsors Home Builders Supply, Grady-White Boats and Pecheles Automotive have pledged a total of $45,000 in donations as a matching campaign. 

“We thank our anchor sponsors for this campaign: Home Builders Supply, Grady-White Boats and Pecheles Automotive,” Young said. “These supporters have been supporting us for years and we greatly appreciate what these companies do for us and the community.”

Every dollar raised by CCC throughout Giving Tuesday will be matched by each sponsor up to $15,000. 

“Without the support of these companies and many other supporters, we could not continue to operate as we have done for the last 36 years,” Young said.

Geri Lassiter, grants administrator for Grady-White Boats, says the company will contribute $15,000 to the giving campaign in an effort to support the shelter’s operations.

Founders Eddie and Jo Smith have lived in Pitt County since 1968, Lassiter said, where the couple’s family foundation has supported a number of different organizations over the years.

Many of these organizations, including CCC, provide basic necessities like food and shelter, Lassiter said, helping to strengthen the community at large.

“We particularly want to make sure all people, all of our neighbors have what they need as far as basic necessities, which would be food and shelter, and both of those things are being provided by (Community) Crossroads,” Lassiter said.

Grady-White Boats, among other community donors, has established a deep relationship with the shelter since it opened its doors in 1987, helping further CCC’s mission of serving the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.

Giving to community organizations like CCC helps improve the quality of life for the Pitt County community, Lassiter said, the home of the Smith family, their employees and customers alike. 

“It’s important to the Smith family and to all the executives at Grady-White Boats for all of our employees here to live their best lives,” Lassiter said. “We have that same feeling for the community.”

Pecheles Automotive Group will also contribute $15,000 in honor of Giving Tuesday, the company’s president Brian Pecheles said. 

As a family-owned business established in 1965, Pecheles says the company has close ties to the area and strives to give back to the community where their employees and customers live. 

“My family lives right here in Greenville, North Carolina and has forever, and being a locally-owned family business we just think it’s our obligation to be able to give back to the community, and certainly to an organization that’s so helpful to those that can’t help themselves,” he said.

While there are many great causes to give to in Pitt County, Pecheles said the company has a strong relationship with CCC, having supported the shelter over the past 10 years.CCC not only ensures safe housing for its residents, Pecheles said, but helps create long-term sufficiency for those who face homelessness in Pitt County through its operations.

“The leadership for the community shelter under Charles Young is absolutely magnificent and that he does such a great job,” Pecheles said. “The organization’s so efficient under his leadership, which again, it keeps us motivated to continue to help and to do this every year.”

Donations to Community Crossroads Center’s Giving Tuesday campaign can be made on the center’s website or in person. Those interested in learning more about Giving Tuesday can contact our office at (252) 752-0829.