Mount Holly community organization to host Taste of the Town event

An organization dedicated to serving Mount Holly residents is hosting it’s first ever Taste of the Town.

According to Community Relief Organization President Dave Vanek, proceeds from the event will help fund regular programs and a new box truck for the CRO.

The Community Relief Organization of Mount Holly was established 72 years ago by a group of churches looking to pool their resources to help community members in need, Vaneck said.

Over the years, the group has remained focused on the same principles, offering free food and rent and utility assistance to community members in need.

Vaneck said that for a variety of reasons, including the expiration of COVID-19 funding for several government assistance programs, CRO saw a 20% increase in need last year.

In 2023, the organization handed out food to roughly 2,300 families and distributed $130,000 in rent or utility assistance to Mount Holly families, he added.

Much of the food that is distributed to residents is either donated from local businesses and grocers or passed on to CRO from Second Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte.

Vaneck said the box truck CRO uses to get food from Second Harvest to their own building at 2120 Spring St. in Mount Holly has fallen into disrepair.

It still runs, but it has recently had leaks in the box and other costly issues.

Using funds from Taste of the Town, the organization hopes to replace it with another used box truck that is in better condition, Vaneck said.

Aside from the new truck, remaining funds raised will go back into CRO’s funding pool to support families that need assistance with rent or utilities, he said.

The organization is almost entirely volunteer-based with around 50 volunteers currently on board, so financial donations go straight back into the community, according to Vaneck.

“The impact of the funds goes right back into the community … to help those in crisis,” he said.

Taste of the Town, which is to be held 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept.14 at 420 E. Central Ave in Mount Holly, will include food sponsored by local restaurants and businesses, a live auction, a silent auction, games and prizes.

Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased by visiting cro-mtholly.org.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Community Relief Organization of Mount Holly to host event