03/29/2024
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Yesterday, Monday, July 6th marked opening day for the Christian Community Outreach Center located at 12242 Highway 131 in Bladenboro. The center was started by, Jamie Willoughby, a self-confessed former drug user with a goal to serve the community with a variety of services in God’s name.

According to Jamie, starting this week on, Tuesday and Thursday nights a Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous meeting will be held at the center by a certified counselor at 7 pm with free child care services if needed.

Jamie said, “We have started with an entertainment portion with an arcade area for the youth and adults to enjoy good clean fun playing pool, foosball, video games, darts, and more.” The center is open Monday through Thursday 10 am until 6 pm Fridays and Saturdays the center is open 10 am until 11 pm. Every Friday night we will have a cookout starting at 6:30 pm., so we can all fellowship and have fun in a good Christian environment.

Other goals Jamie mentioned were to start a food bank, Second Harvest, next week, then eventually offer some support groups for people dealing with PTSD, and depression. Jamie also wants the center to be a safe haven for drug addicts looking for a place to come and get clean. Jamie has a shower at the center so folks can literally get clean, and then he has connections with the new Southeastern Carolina Crossroads and other places that offer help for people struggling with addictions.

Jamie said, “I gave my heart to God, and the Lord called me because this community needs help. There is a lot of opiate use. I’m not a preacher, I’m not a counselor, but I have a lot of contacts and that’s what I have been working on.”  He continued, “A lot of people strung out on drugs need a shower. So I have a shower here, they can take a shower and then I can have a licensed counselor come and talk with them.”

The center has a front office, a bathroom with a shower, a meeting room, a kitchen, and an entertainment center. “This is faith based,” Jamie said, “This is a non-denominational, non-profit, all for the glory of God.”

If you know someone needing to attend a NA or AA meeting remember the new Christian Community Outreach Center will be hosting a NA and AA meeting every Tuesday and Thursday night starting at 7 pm.

If you are looking for somewhere to plug in and help serve, Jamie said, the center is also accepting donations for the food bank and volunteers are needed.

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