Meeting Community Need in Lee County
With its abundance of red shale and clay, Lee County is famous for its brickmaking. At one time it was known as the “Brick Capital of the USA.” It also flourished with tobacco harvesting, furniture making and textiles. Lee County has seen the ebb and flow of economic prosperity and like many communities its share of challenges—among them, affordable housing, poverty, and food insecurity. More than 44% of renters and 19% of homeowners say they have difficulty affording their home and 13.5% of residents are food insecure with 43% of children on a free/reduced lunch program.
The Salvation Army has been serving the Lee County community for nearly 30 years through a variety of social service programs and case management expertise. We provide daily meals, groceries, shower facilities, clothing vouchers, and crisis financial assistance for utility, rent and mortgage payments. Our case managers work with those in crisis to connect them with the resources to meet their basic needs, stabilize their living conditions, and navigate towards sustainable employment and healthy life choices.
Meet our New Lee County Service Center Director
As we look to meet a growing demand for services, we are delighted to welcome Dotty Dalphon to The Salvation Army of Lee County as our new Service Center Director. Dotty brings a wealth of experience, and she is excited to use that expertise as we make plans to create a new permanent site for our Navigation Center.
Where are you from and what kind of work have you done in your career?
I was born and raised in southern NJ (aka South Jersey) and have lived in a few mid-Atlantic states (DE, MD, and PA) until arriving in North Carolina. The first 12 years of my career were spent working in sales/marketing/promotions in big (international) pharma, and I have spent the last 12 years in nonprofit leadership. I also worked for county government for a few years. In between, I was a stay-at-home mom enjoying time with my two daughters.
What is your proudest career moment?
In my most recent position as the CEO of CARE Healing Center, I led our staff’s efforts to join Maryland in the fight against human trafficking. We developed regional trafficking navigation services for Carroll County citizens and served victims of child sex trafficking by providing awareness, education, and support. Victim-survivors, the community, high-risk individuals, and their loved ones are now provided with trauma-informed responses and resources through this program.
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing in your new position?
I am excited about bringing the Center of Hope building and services to fruition to better serve our clients in Lee County. Having a dedicated space to work collaboratively with community partners will allow us to better serve those in need.
Where do you see the best opportunity for The Army to have a positive impact in the Lee County community?
The Army’s comprehensive array of services to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of individuals and families facing homelessness, hunger, and financial distress offer genuine hope and healing. They are indispensable services to our community.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I have a new grandbaby!