Unsung Hero: ‘We’re giving communities hope.’ Minister’s food drive raises spirits
Minister Charles Robinson, a longtime fixture in Charlotte’s Hidden Valley neighborhood, is well aware of his community needs.
Those needs were only heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of the families lack cars to get to free meal sites arranged for children in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Robinson told The Charlotte Observer this week. Others who are elderly tell him they are terrified to venture outdoors for fear of catching the virus.
So Robinson did something to help his neighbors and the community at large.
In mid-March, he launched a food drive that now provides up to 6,000 meals a week to families in need in north and northeast Charlotte. Robinson helps cook some of the meals and delivers them to the families. Four other chefs/cooks participate, along with five volunteer meal packers and four volunteer drivers.
Robinson, 48, said he anticipated the need not only as a Hidden Valley resident but through his longtime community outreach. He is a minister at Bread of Life Deliverance Church and executive director of the non-profit Community Hub 1245 organization, both on Tom Hunter Road.
Robinson said he posted his need for meal donations on Facebook — and corporate and individual donors came through.
Renee Brown, head of the Big Rig Kids literacy organization, gave him enough food to feed 1,500 people the first three days of his effort, Robinson said.
Many others have pitched in, too, he said, from Myers Park Country Club to University Business Partners, which is based at UNC Charlotte.
Skill Builders Institute on Beatties Ford Road in west Charlotte donated small portion meals, he said. Prestige Farms, based on Orr Road in north Charlotte donated 100 cases of chicken.
And Northside Baptist Church lets Robinson use its kitchen for free. He makes meals there each morning with other volunteers before driving the food out to families. Every day, seven days a week.
Brent Jones, director of service and outreach at StoneBridge Church Community on Prosperity Church Road said Robinson deserved to be recognized as a community hero because of his impact he has on so many families during the new coronavirus crisis.
Robinson said his mother always talked about how people helped one another in Charlotte’s predominantly African American, former Brooklyn community. He said his life of service also is inspired by how Charlotte as a whole comes together in times of need to help others.
“And I’m just excited to be one of the servants doing the work,” he said. “We love what we’re doing, and we’re meeting a great need. I feel we’re giving communities hope.”
This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 2:17 PM.