The Town of Norman will receive a $7,500 grant to assist in the restoration of one of its older buildings which recently has been converted into a store for the needy.

“There was a real need for it in this area,” said Jean Stutts, mayor of Norman.

The town applied for the grant in order to support a community project led by churches around the Norman area.

The Norman Community Mission Store is a second-hand store which opened at the end of May and sells donated, gently used clothing. The store is located on the corner of Moore Street and U.S. 220.

“Looking around, there’s not many in our area,” said Bob Carpenter, pastor at Norman Methodist Church and one of the coordinators for the project.

According to Stutts, the building used to be a gas station but has not been used in years. It was recently chosen by local churches as the site for the new business venture.

The structure has yet to be fully restored, but this grant will help pay for the majority of the work. The primary focus of the grant money will go towards the outside of the building.

The $7,500 grant was given to the town by the Cole Foundation, a permanent endowment fund with a regional focus on agencies serving Richmond County. The Cole Foundation, originally formed in 1965, continues to donate money and grants to what it views as charitable organizations.

This is the first grant the town has received, Stutts said. Earlier this year the Duke Endowment Fund passed them over on grant funding.

According to Carpenter, the Norman Community Mission Store is a self-sufficient program and intends to bring money back to the town.

The project started small, opening one day a week, but intends on growing and opening for business more frequently during the week.

“People’s need will be what determines our growth,” Carpenter said.

Volunteers from Norman and neighboring areas helped with the renovation of the inside of the store. The volunteers assisted in painting, carpentry work and donated their own supplies, if needed.

“It’s a little town, but it’s more like a little community,” Stutts said.