Contributed photo Residents listen to the services and programs that will be offered by the new organization, Trinity Family Services.

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A new organization is catering to residents of Richmond County, with classes on everything from computers to tennis.

Trinity Family Services introduced its programs to the public on Jan. 17 at the Falling Creek Gym in Rockingham.

William McDonald, CEO of Trinity Family Services, said it’s excited about the opportunities it is offering to the community and is “expecting a lot of great things to happen for our youth as well as the residents in the county.”

Around 200 community leaders, parents and children filled the gym to hear about the programs and classes Trinity Family Services will offer.

Joe Mendola, a representative from the Rockingham Housing Authority Board of Directors, said: “Everyday on the news we hear negative things such as the fiscal cliffs, budget ceilings, all negative news. But here in little old Rockingham, on Hood Street, at Falling Creek Park, we have a chance for something very positive.”

The organization will offer a variety of classes and services to Richmond County. On Tuesday and Thursday, there will be an open gym from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for ages 8 to 12, and from 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. for ages 12 and older. There will also be the Project Leadership Mentoring Program for young men ages 12-18; health, fitness and dance classes, three on three basketball tournaments for boys and girls ages 8-17 years-old; and tennis classes for boys and girls ages 5-10 years-old.

There are also computer classes that are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. which are taught by a representative from Richmond Community College Workforce Development.

All of the classes are free, except for the tennis class which is $60 and the computer class which is $65. Residents who qualify for assistant can receive free computer classes.

“It is our goal to empower families as a whole and to build prosperous and productive lives through a variety of programs and services,” McDonald said.

Open registration for all of the programs is on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 6:00 p.m. at the Falling Creek Gym.

For more information on registering for the basketball tournaments call Taneika Reader at 910-461-7062. For more information on registering for the tennis classes call Alan Blackwell at 910-895-6270.

McDonald said that Trinity Family Services is always looking for volunteers to take the time to coach, mentor, referee, tutor and help with other general needs.

Trinity Family Services is run off of private donations from the community and a donation, which is tax deductible, can be mailed to Trinity Family Services at P.O Box 122, Rockingham NC.

For more information about the organization, call 910-895-6270. The address of the organization is 471 Hood St. in Rockingham.

— Staff Writer Laura Edington can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at ledington@civitasmedia.com.

NOTE: The original article contained two errors which have been corrected. This article is the correct version. We apologize for these mistakes.