Gang Free Inc., a program focused on reducing crime in Vance County, was the recent recipient of the Coastal Credit Union Foundation’s Hometown Hero Award.

One nonprofit organization from each of the 16 counties in North Carolina served by the Coastal Credit Union was selected by the foundation’s committee members to receive this honor.

Melissa Elliott, recent candidate for Vance County Sheriff, founded Gang Free Inc. in 2009 to serve at-risk youth and adults. With the main focus on youth ages 5-17, the mission of the organization is to “educate and empower individuals to live a life liberated of crime through innovative progress and services.”

Led by Elliott and a group of approximately 10 consistent volunteers, Gang Free Inc., located at 940 County Home Rd., Henderson, currently serves 56 youth. “We are focused on prevention and we address the kids’ emotional and social needs,” Elliott said.

The majority of participants are students from Clarke Elementary School, LB Yancey Elementary School, Henderson Middle School and Southern Vance High School.

“We do so much with our kids,” said Elliott. “From literacy programs, bullying and gang prevention, mowing grass, cleaning up neighborhoods, helping the Henderson Optimist Club with their Christmas trees or picking produce from our own garden, we keep them engaged and involved in their community.”

According to Elliott, this level of community service and involvement keeps participants away from crime and gives them a sense of purpose and of responsibility to be good stewards of their community.

For their efforts to reduce crime in Vance County, Gang Free Inc. was awarded a $5,000 grant on May 24, 2018, at the Coastal Credit Union Foundation’s third-annual Power of Sharing Gala held at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley.

“It was very meaningful to me to attend the gala and to see that there are other people out there trying to make a difference in their communities; there are other like-minded people,” said Elliott. “It was an incredible experience.”

Elliott plans to use the bulk of the grant for new programs, including Guiding Good Choices, a drug prevention program for ages 9-14 with a focus on opioid and heroin abuse.

In addition to the $5,000 grant to be used for operating expenses and programs, Gang Free Inc. received an IBM Impact Grant that allowed Elliott to attend the recently-held “Becoming a Leader of Change” training.

This leadership training helped Elliott identify effective change management skills, as well as provided insight on how to implement improvement processes within her organization.

While formal training sessions are important to Elliott and her growth as a leader, learning on the job and making changes as necessary is also an invaluable teacher. “I’m learning as I go and running this organization on faith.”

Elliott thanks her volunteers and community organizations for the “overwhelming support” that they have provided Gang Free Inc. “Dr. Jeanette Floyd, the educational director, is the glue and nails of this organization,” said Elliott. “This would not be possible without her and without our numerous individual volunteers and organizations.”

To learn more about Gang Free Inc. or to become a volunteer, please visit their website at www.gangfreeinc.org.