Helping Hand Mission serves homeless on New Bern Avenue

For over 25 years, the Helping Hand Mission has provided meals and clothes to homeless families living in the New Bern Transitional Housing Program on New Bern Avenue.

The housing program provides a temporary home, tools, resources and opportunities for single mothers and other families until they transition into independent living.

On Thursday, the Helping Hand Mission will hand out 800 meals.

WRAL News spoke to one man who said, since he can't be with family, this will be his only meal. Another man eating on the side of the street said he's thankful people care enough to feed the homeless.

Pat Ederton, who has volunteered with the Helping Hand Mission at the New Bern Avenue housing program for 10 years, said helping people is her calling.

"I believe in helping people, and that's why God has me here," she said. "I don't have any struggles, I give it all to God. I just go where he leads me. It means a whole lot, I'm feeding homeless people and that's what he tells me to do."