Lumberton Communityโ Rallies too Equip Students for Success, Addresses Critical Issues
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LUMBERTON, N.C. –
As theโ first bell approaches on Monday, โcommunity โleaders in Lumberton, North carolina, have united to ensure students in District 3 โare not only preparedโค with school supplies but also โequipped with vital knowledge and a renewed sense of community support.โข The initiative, spearheaded by the Lumbee Tribeโข and local officials, aims to address challenges โfacing young people in Robeson County, including the pervasiveโค issue of substance abuse.
A Community Investment in โฃyouth
The 3rd annual back-to-school โevent, hosted at Roger’s Screen Printing and sporting Goods, transformed โฃinto a vibrant โขhub of activity. Over 100 students benefited from the outpouring of support,โข receiving essential school supplies, books, and nourishing food. โคLively music filled the air, creating โaโฃ positive and encouraging atmosphere.
But the event went beyond simply providing material goods. Recognizing the urgent need for preventative education, organizers incorporated โa โcrucial segment focused on the dangers of drug and alcohol use. This decision was particularly poignant given โRobeson County’s โขsobering statistics – โthe North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports the county consistently experiences some of the highest opioid โuse and โoverdose rates in the state.
Law Enforcement โConnectsโ with โฃStudents
Robeson County law enforcement officers were on hand to deliver a directโค and impactful โmessage to students about the risks associated with underage drinking and drug experimentation. Officer Gregory moore, a Lumberton patrol officer, expressed hisโฃ passion for engagingโข with youth. I love it. โขThis is my thing!
โข he exclaimed. I love talking to kids,โ adults as well, โbut I do love the kids, and I think that this is something vital for themโ to know because they go back to school, and it will โcarry them on throughout school.
โ His presence underscored the commitment of local authorities toโค protecting the well-being of the community’sโ young people.
Beyondโ Supplies: Fostering a Sense of Belonging
The event’s success was driven by theโข dedication of elected officials, including Council Representatives Pamela Hunt and Harold Smith. Hunt emphasized the importance of demonstrating care and support to students who may beโข facing difficult circumstances. Somebody cares, first of all,
she stated. And we have so many children that are impacted negatively. We wantโข to put a positive turn on that and say hey, it’s not just your parent that care about you, but you’ve got a whole community that cares about you.
Smith echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential within District 3’s youth.We give to them so they can grow up and give back to the community the same way and grow up and be pillars in the community and that’s why โtoday’s โฃevent is so important
he explained. Our children are very bright they just need to have the exposure as all other kids โคhave.โ If they getโ that exposure, that knowledge, they can grow up toโ be โฃanything โฃthey want to be.
Adding a โคpractical touch, barber students from Robeson Community College volunteered their skills, providing freeโ haircuts to help โstudents start the school year looking and feeling confident.
