Love in Action to support expansion of services in eastern Union County

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Love in Action to support expansion of services in eastern Union County

Moser Group, Passionate Paws kick off fundraising blitz

Since the pandemic hit locally, Stephen & Dr. Susan Bonilla had been looking for ways to give back but weren’t sure how. As the owners of Passionate Paws Animal Hospital in Waxhaw, they enjoy sponsoring community events, but those were cancelled. Hosting a food drive or collecting toilet paper provided logistical & safety challenges and giving away masks just didn’t seem like enough. 

So when Stephen saw an email from Common Heart asking if the hospital would sponsor the Love in Action fall fundraiser he looked at his wife and said “we really need to do this. This is what we’ve been looking for.” 

This year’s Love in Action fundraiser is virtual at LoveinAction.CommonHeart.org and will include an online video premiere on Friday, Oct. 23.

Passionate Paws is joining The Moser Group, an Indian Trail-based commercial real estate firm, in kicking off the annual fundraising campaign by each donating at the top $5,000 level. This support will help purchase a refrigerated truck to pick up and deliver much-needed groceries for local families in need. The fall fundraiser will also support the new facilities opening this fall in Marshville which includes a food pantry, warehouse & program office space. So far, business sponsors have raised $14,700 toward the campaign’s $50,000 goal.  

So far this year, Common Heart has provided food to 14,686 people — almost double the number served in all of 2019, Executive Director Keith Adams said. 

“This community has stepped up, volunteered, and donated food and funds so nearly 50% of the estimated 30,000 food insecure individuals in Union County and surrounding areas have received the basic necessity of food,” he said. “The expansion into Marshville will mobilize more volunteers in more locations, serving more families.”

The work in the Marshville area is key to serving more families. Of the 460 students at Marshville Elementary School, 446 of them qualify for free or reduced lunches. And at neighboring Wingate Elementary School only 6 students of the 565 students DO NOT qualify for free or reduced lunch, Adams said. 

“These are startling statistics which show us that a huge majority of kids in the eastern Union County area are part of a food insecure family. The uncertainty and inconsistency of school schedules make this an even larger problem,” Adams said.

The Love in Action campaign will raise funds to help sustain the expansion and work toward the goal if ending generational poverty in Union County.

“With this donation we’re going to make a lasting impact,” Stephen Bonilla of Passionate Paws said. “I know the food is important, but it goes fast. This truck is much more permanent, something that looks at the big picture of helping our community end the cycle of poverty.”  

Similar thoughts moved Dennis Moser of The Moser Group to sponsor Common Heart, Moser spokeswoman Abby Martin said. The company is celebrating its 26th year in business.    

“Dennis Moser is a very, very giving person. The Moser Group is a company that’s always giving back to the community he cares about,” she said. “It’s a troubling time for everyone right now, but thankfully we’re staying busy. Because of us being so blessed, it’s important to give back and bless others, especially during this pandemic.” 

Common Heart volunteers & donors usually gather to celebrate and fundraise with an October Love in Action Banquet. This year, due to the pandemic, that celebration will be virtual with a video premiering Friday, Oct. 23 on Facebook, Instagram & Youtube along with an online auction in the new Common Heart Auction Group on Facebook. The Common Heart eBay store is also stocked with treasures for the fundraiser.  

Donations from the public are needed to reach the $50,000 goal. To donate visit LoveinAction.CommonHeart.org or mail a check (payable to Common Heart), to: PO Box 2761, Indian Trail, NC 28079. 

Businesses or churches interested in a sponsorship should email Kara.Lopp@CommonHeart.org or call 704-218-9060. 

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