Lenoir/Greene United Way officials move office from Vernon Park Mall to North Queen Street

For the first time in 20 years, the Lenoir/Greene United Way has a new office at the Kinston Enterprise Center at North Queen Street.

June Cummings, Lenoir/Greene United Way executive director, said the new office at the center will offer more visibility for her organization’s services. She thanked Vernon Park Mall for allowing the Lenoir/Greene United Way to have its office located at the mall’s second floor for the past 20 years.

“They supported us for a long time,” Cummings said.

Cummings said the board of directors had decided to see what the Kinston Enterprise Center had to offer. The board agreed that a new office should be opened at the center because of its location, Cummings said.

“The community is going to be able to see us better,” Cummings said. “We are really pleased with our new place.”

According to Lenoir/Greene United Way executive assistant Janeice Goude, the organization’s former office at the mall wasn’t highly visible to the public.

“There were some people who didn’t even know the mall had a second floor,” Goude said. “We hope to have more foot traffic at our new office.”

Goude and Cummings worked to unpack about 60 boxes in the move. Volunteer Paul Chused helped coordinate the efforts. BB&T also donated office supplies and furniture for the new office in Suite 112 at 327 N. Queen St.

Cummings said she expects the move will be completed during the next few weeks. A few more boxes need to be unpacked and pictures will soon be placed on the new office’s walls.

The Kinston Enterprise Center first opened in February 2003 with six tenants and 18,000 square feet of rental space. The center has added several new tenants during the past six years, including the local United Way chapter last week.

Lenoir/Greene United Way board member Adrian King welcomed his new neighbors at the center Monday. King also serves as the Pride of Kinston executive director and has an office at the center.

“I am glad to have them here,” King said. “It adds a nice dimension of service to our community.”

The Lenoir/Greene United Way will continue to conduct its annual campaign drive through the winter. Cummings said they hoped to raise $500,000 in the 2009-2010 campaign.

Cummings first became a volunteer for the United Way in the 1980s. She has worked for the organization for the past eight years.

Chris Lavender can be reached at 252-559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.