Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

As many Davie County residents struggle to make ends meet, a local nonprofit organization continues to work to keep a roof over each person’s head.

The Advocacy Center of Davie County provides one-time, temporary assistance to local residents facing uncertain housing situations. The goal is to keep Davie residents in a stable home by preventing any threats to security – including but not limited to failure to pay rent, power cutoffs, or eviction notices.

Allie Fruits is the newest director of the Advocacy Center of Davie. She is one of the few directors to have grown up in Davie County and attend Davie County schools.

She graduated from Davie County High School and earned her master’s from N.C. State University in social work. She has trained for this type of work and is doing what she loves in her home county.

She has been involved in this community since she was a young girl and continues her involvement through her work with the Advocacy Center and as a contract social worker with the Davie County schools,  She said the two jobs often go well together as she sees or hears of needs through the school system.

She is an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Mocksville.

The Advocacy Center has been helping to prevent homelessness for more than 15 years. In addition to providing a financial safety net for crisis situations, the organization connects people with other need-based community services.

Fruits has worked hand-in-hand with other agencies to assist families in stabilizing their home environments.

Davie County is experiencing an affordable housing shortage which makes the work of the AC that much more important as they assist people in maintaining their current living situation, she said.

In 2022, the Advocacy Center spent $54,000 to assist 364 people. When someone receives assistance, it benefits everyone in the household, Fruits said.  Those receiving help include single moms, professionals, veterans, and families struggling to live marginally on minimum wage jobs.

“My goal this year is to implement budgeting classes for the residents we have served and others in the community to help them become more financially stable. We would like to help provide the education and resources they need to build a better future.

“The Advocacy Center is so thankful for the Davie Community Foundation, DCF Pearls, and Energy United. They support our mission and we could not do what we do without the funding these grants provide.”

In March, the first post Covid bingo fundraiser was held.  It was a great success and Fruits was thankful for the support of the community.  She is planning another one for early 2024.

“We also receive financial support from some local churches, individuals, and businesses.  We would like to broaden our support system, so we can provide assistance to more members of the community,” Fruits said.