Kori Francis and her husband started The Harvest Alliance, located in Aberdeen, on January 26th of 2018. This organization is currently in the works of becoming a non-profit volunteer recruitment group that will direct volunteer individuals to a group, business, or church to help build the community.
Kori was raised in Pinebluff, and her husband, Jason, was born and raised in Southern Pines. They now live in Pinebluff with their three children.
They had the idea for The Harvest Alliance after an opportunity to lead an existing organization fell through. It was then that they decided to create their own.
“We were given this idea of how to connect the community more effectively,” Kori said. “A lot of people want to be involved but don’t know how or what’s available.”
Community members from all of Moore County and surrounding areas will contact The Harvest Alliance, and Kori will help them to find opportunities that fit in with their interests and help meet the needs of the community.
“I’ll find people’s interests and help them get plugged into an opportunity here that’s already established,” she said.
Currently, Kori and the Board of Directors are recruiting volunteers and making connections with local churches, groups, and businesses. They hope to connect with local schools to help students find areas to serve.
“One of issues with students is that they’re bored and don’t have anything to be passionate about,” Kori said. “Having them help others at a young age helps set them up for their future. If you can’t serve individuals, you won’t really know how to lead.”
Local businesses can work with the organization to find volunteers or help serve the community.
“There are over 200 homeless students in Moore County. We’re looking at what people actually need here. [For example,] restaurants who may have food left over at the end of the day – what are they doing with it?” Kori said. “If there’s a problem, there’s always a solution.”
Some example scenarios that The Harvest Alliance could help are if a mom with a husband overseas needs something fixed in the home or if a low-income family has a hole in the roof after a natural disaster. Kori’s database of volunteers can be sent out to serve for an hour or so out of the week.
“The focus is building up this community and strengthening who we are,” she said. “We don’t need to be paid for everything we do.”
The Harvest Alliance is privately funded and not partnered with any church. Instead of being associated with only one church or organization, they hope to bring multiple churches and organizations together.
“Right now, we don’t need money. We need people,” she said. “What I need is for people to step up to the plate to use skills and talents to create a better community… Money doesn’t fix the community. What does fix it are the individuals who step up and care for the individuals in their communities.”
Kori’s goal is to see The Harvest Alliance become a resource for the community to direct them to the organizations that they need.
“People can come here to find the right place for them. They can find exactly what they’re looking for,” she said.
Volunteers must be sixteen or older to get involved unless under the supervision of a present guardian.
“Anybody has the opportunity and place for them to serve,” Kori said.
The Harvest Alliance has already found volunteering needs for tutors at the Boys & Girls Club, art assistants at the Trinity Outreach Center, and nurses at the Pregnancy Life Center in Carthage.
The Harvest Alliance will have its first public appearance at the Aberdeen Spring Spree on Saturday, May 19th. This event will be located in Downtown Aberdeen and will last from 11:30AM – 9:30PM. The Harvest Alliance will have a booth to recruit volunteers.
To learn more about The Harvest Alliance, email Kori Francis at TheHarvestAlliance@gmail.com or visit TheHarvestAlliance.org.
