Place of Grace volunteers cleaning up East Rockingham

ROCKINGHAM — Place of Grace Campus has been doing its part to help clean up the community and address the ongoing litter problem.

Over the last few weeks, residents and staff have been cleaning up vacant lots, an abandoned house and six streams in East Rockingham.

After talking with county officials about where they could best serve, Pastor Gary Richardson that cleaning in the areas they know would be the place place to start.

“We need to help our community be a better place to live and try to help with the appearance,” said Richardson.

On Monday, 14 individuals gave 35 community volunteer hours and accumulated several bags of trash.

Richardson said cleaning up the community will be a priority going forward for the Campus, and wants others to “get on board with making a difference.”

“We encourage everybody to do that,” Richardson said. “Whether you’re a church or a business, it’s a good opportunity to go beyond the walls that you work in and do a little something for our community to make our county a better place to live.”

Place of Grace will be participating in the Earth Day cleanup planned for April 24.

In 2020, 2.2 million pounds of food was given by Place of Grace through the USDA’s Farmers for Families food box program.

Richardson said they were very steady through the pandemic in their food distribution and that they’re on track to reach that number again this year.

On May 3 at 6:00 p.m. at the Richmond County Airport, there will be a meeting that is open to the public focusing on how people can contribute to make Richmond County more hospitable. Richardson said many local pastors, non-profits and businesses will be in attendance.