A gift of $10,000 from Greenville, NC-based Union Bank, to The Salvation Army of Kinston will provide much-needed help and hope to Lenoir County-area families and individuals impacted by COVID-19. The donation is earmarked to provide food and meal assistance to children and families impacted by the pandemic.

“On behalf of our Union Bank family, we are proud to offer a measure of relief during this unprecedented time,” said Rob Jones, CEO of Union Bank. “One of our core values is to make a difference in our communities. This contribution recognizes the challenges that individuals and families in our markets currently face. I am especially proud to say that this gift includes contributions from Union Bank, members of our Board of Directors and personal contributions from Executive Management”.

Annually, The Salvation Army serves thousands of people in the Lenoir County area through programs that include food and meals, emergency housing, clothing, disaster relief, rent and utilities assistance, youth after-school programs and Christmas gifts for needy children and seniors. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed major financial setbacks for North Carolina residents and The Salvation Army has received an influx of requests for assistance.

“COVID-19 continues to bring challenges for many people,” said Captain Chris Lyles of The Salvation Army of Kinston. “The need for Salvation Army social service programming is essential in our community. This gift from Union Bank will strengthen our feeding programs to help people facing financial difficulties at this time.”