FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Dr. Vivian Rhone remembers a little boy explaining to his mother what was different about his new shoes.
“I don’t feel the concrete under my feet.”
It was around Christmas, she recalls. The boy had just received shoes from Balm in Gilead. His previous pair had worn thin at the soles. Now, his feet were warm.
That memory captures the purpose behind nearly four decades of Dr. Rhone’s community service: recognizing a need and helping someone take the next step.
Founded by Dr. Rhone, Balm in Gilead is a volunteer-run nonprofit offering free counseling and educational services alongside food, clothing, hygiene products, household items and disaster relief. It welcomes people of all backgrounds, with support from churches, businesses, volunteers and other community organizations.
For Cumberland County Schools (CCS), it is a trusted partner that school staff can turn to when students and families need help.
A childhood question sparks a calling
Dr. Rhone’s commitment began when she was 10, helping her school raise money for a national organization while her own cousin needed assistance with school expenses.
“My cousin was in need and I wondered why we weren’t helping her or others right in our community,” she shared.
That question stayed with her. Peers sought her advice and prayers. Mentors encouraged her desire to serve. Guided by her faith, she developed a course to help people support neighbors experiencing emotional pain.
The work expanded, but the focus remained personal: notice the individual behind the need.
A trusted call for student support
Sometimes, that need becomes apparent during the school day. A child needs clothing. A family needs groceries. A student has no hygiene supplies at home.
School counselors, social workers, teachers and principals know they can contact Balm in Gilead for assistance. Dr. Rhone describes a commitment to gathering needed items and responding promptly when a school calls.
Those relationships support students, families and employees, connecting them with individualized assistance and other community resources.
“It is incredible to see the sacrifices that CCS employees make on a daily basis to help children and families who aren’t always able to help themselves,” said Dr. Rhone.
Through Backpack Buddies, school staff help get weekend food packets to students. The packets fit discreetly inside backpacks, providing simple meals beyond the school week while protecting children’s dignity.
Grocery bundles are tailored to household size and needs, combining pantry staples with available foods such as meat, vegetables, bread and cheese.
The benefits can reach into the classroom. Hunger, discomfort and worries at home can compete with a lesson for a child’s attention. Meeting essential needs can help students focus, participate and learn.
Students step up to serve
The same commitment brings people together for food giveaways, holiday projects and community impact events that Dr. Rhone says have drawn thousands of people.
At a recent Gray’s Creek community impact event, families received food and other essential items while volunteers worked together to serve their neighbors. Dr. Rhone estimated that more than 140 students volunteered.
As students sort supplies and serve families, they practice teamwork, take responsibility and discover their ability to lead.
Giving back comes full circle
Dr. Rhone recalls another young man who was taking school notes on napkins and paper towels. A student the ministry had already helped noticed and brought him to Balm in Gilead, where he received notebooks and supplies.
“Years later, that young man went to work for NASA and donated school supplies to help others in need,” she said.
The student who noticed him was part of that story, too. Support was already moving from one person to another.
For Dr. Rhone, the work still begins with the person in front of her.
The boy with the new shoes could feel the difference with every step. Helping a child move forward with that kind of support is at the heart of What’s Right with CCS.
Meeting a need today is an investment in where that child can go tomorrow.
Watch the conversation
Dr. Lindsay A. Whitley, associate superintendent for Communications and Community Engagement, recently sat down with Dr. Rhone to discuss her story and the partnership supporting CCS students and families.
Watch the video highlights below. The full-length interview will air on CCS' Facebook page at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15.
Snapshots from a Recent Community Impact Event
As CCS works to become the highest-performing school district in North Carolina, partnerships like this bring the Committed Community pillar of its 2026–2031 Strategic Plan to life. They help remove barriers to learning while giving students opportunities to develop their strengths.
Individuals, businesses, faith communities and other organizations can contribute time, skills or resources. Visit www.ccs.k12.nc.us/ceo to explore Community Engagement Opportunities.