Greenville shelter in need of assistance, area child selling lemonade to do his part

STOKES, Pitt County — Officials at a shelter in Greenville said they need help.

With a decrease in volunteers and an increase in prices, the Community Crossroads Center is finding ways to meet the demand of the homeless community, and one family is stepping up to help.

Nine-year-old Caden Weatherington saw a need to help the homeless community and he set out to do just that.

For five years, Weatherington and his family have set up a lemonade stand outside of their home to raise money for items to be given to a local homeless shelter.

“The homeless are in need for people that need help so that’s inspired me to keep doing the lemonade stand over and over again,” he said.

Officials with the Community Crossroads Center said they are in need of paper items, cleaning supplies and toiletries.

Executive Director Charles Young said if the shelter doesn’t receive enough of these supplies, they have to buy these items themselves.

Young said something as simple as a lemonade stand can help.

“If we don’t get donations, we have to purchase the items that we need to operate this shelter and take care of our homeless residents. We had over 75 different individuals stay here last month, we average about 50 per night and we’re seeing an increase," Young said.

Weatherington is hoping his small part will help.

“I go to a store and buy materials for a homeless shelter and then when I’m done, probably this day or the next day, I go the homeless shelter and deliver the stuff,” he said.

People can visit Caden’s Lemonade Stand Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 9 a.m. through noon at 2702 NC Highway 903 North in Stokes.