“We are looking for family participation as well as the citizens,” Ronald Nicholson said. “We also want to get people involved in the government and this will help get the word out about the things that they are trying to do.”
Those involved are trying to work with the local government to get the community what it needs and to bring it together.
“We used to be a more united community,” Joe Young said. “The younger children do not have that.”
He said that when he was growing up it was a true neighborhood and if they can get back to that crime could go down.
“This used to be a village where the neighborhood raised the children and we are trying to get back to their concept,” Young said.
The group is attempting to target the seniors as well as the youth to make the community feel safe at all times.
“On some streets there isn’t adequate lighting,” Pastor Linda Ross said. “We want them to feel safe and right now no one is concerned about it.”
Ross said that a lot of the seniors have to worry about where their funds will come from because they have trouble making it on their own and are trying to find ways to ease that burden.
“They have enough to worry about,” she said.
Eddie McRae agrees and says that he would like to see the community get cleaned up and see residents do what’s necessary for everyone.
“We want to take care of the needs of the community, we don’t want anyone to feel alone,” Ross said.
The groups motto is ‘unity is the key to a better community.’
“I am happy with the progress that we have made so far in Dobbins Heights and I am glad that the citizens have that passion to move forward,” Pastor Ozie Felder said. “I have always felt that God has wanted to do something special here in Dobbins Heights.”
Marian LeGrand brought to the attention of the group that the children in the community need school uniforms and they would be happy to take them.
“I work in the school system and I see that many children are in need,” she said.
The Dobbins Heights children attend Monroe Avenue School, Hamlet Middle School, Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy and Richmond Senior High School.
Barbara Young said the only way for the community to succeed is for it to come together.
“We are trying to do anything that we can do, including neighborhood watch,” she said. “When you leave your house you will know that someone is watching it for you.”
The DHCC holds monthly meetings every first Monday at 6 p.m. at the Dobbins Heights Community Center.
“The reason why we all joined is because we have purpose in our hearts,” Ross said.
Donations of school uniforms and other clothing can be dropped off at the Dobbins Heights Town Hall. Their hours of operation are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Staff Writer Hollie Nivens can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19, or by e-mail at hnivens@yourdailyjournal.com
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