ABOUT US
What You Should Know
Serving Craven, Jones and Pamlico Counties
Religious Community Services (RCS) began with a simple pot of soup in the back of Sister Angela Mary Parker's station wagon in 1982.
Today, more than 40 years later, our community concept has grown and evolved into a faith-based organization that addresses the basic needs of our community by providing food, clothing, and shelter to those who need it most. God calls us to serve our community with compassion and faith, and we have a diverse group of volunteers who come to us from local churches and businesses, all giving of themselves to help others.
Our primary programs include the Community Kitchen, Buy-A-Bag Boutique, and Emergency Crisis Shelter. We have other thriving programs to help nourish the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Through our various programs and services, we strive to empower permanent life change by building a supportive community and engaging people holistically.
Our work reflects our love and reverence for God.
At RCS, we understand that everyone is valuable and deserves dignity and respect. We provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can feel supported and empowered to build a stronger future. In addition to our primary programs, we offer transportation assistance, rent and utility assistance, disaster relief and recovery, emergency food pantry, prescription assistance, and employment readiness boot camps with Craven Community College.
Join us as we answer the call to serve by faith and positively impact the lives of those we serve.
OUR STORY
“The life and passion of a person leaves an imprint on the ether of a place. Love does not remain within the heart, it flows out to build secret tabernacles of love in many different landscapes.”
- John O'Donohue
In New Bern, North Carolina, the concept of a soup kitchen wasn't exactly new.
In fact, it was the success of similar initiatives in other eastern North Carolina cities and across the country that led to the idea of creating one in New Bern. The journey began in 1982 when Sister Angela Mary Parker started with nothing more than a pot of soup in the back of her station wagon.
From those simple beginnings, Religious Community Services (RCS) has grown into a vibrant Community Kitchen. We offer a true community meal: free, open to all, and made possible by the generosity of local volunteers and food donations. We believe in providing more than just sustenance; it's a hot meal and a welcoming smile, a moment of warmth and connection for everyone.
In the early summer of 1983, Christ Episcopal Church hosted a meeting of the minds. Among those present were Dr. William Hunt and Sister Angela Mary Parker, who called together a group of 30 interested parishioners. Harold Bassett spoke about his involvement in the Kingston soup kitchen and the outreach ministry provided by Saint Mary's Episcopal Church. The gathering made it clear that there was enough interest to pursue the feasibility of such a program in New Bern.
Dr. Hunt, a vestry member at Christ Episcopal Church, took the lead and formed a steering committee. The committee included John Poland as Chairman, Helen Rawls, Kenneth Chance, Terry Brubaker, and Larry Chewning. Their goal was to determine the need for a soup kitchen in New Bern and communicate that need through the proper channels to make it a reality.
In the summer of 1983, a meeting was held at Christ Episcopal Church to discuss the possibility of a soup kitchen program in New Bern.
The interest in pursuing such a program led to forming a steering committee consisting of dedicated individuals like John Poland, Helen Rawls, Kenneth Chance, Terry Brubaker, and Larry Chewning. Their first order of business was to visit existing soup kitchens in eastern North Carolina, with Ellen Rawls at the helm, to gather data on the number of people being served and whether the need was being met.
The compiled data was then presented to Religious Community Services (RCS), with the understanding that this program would involve all churches in New Bern, not just the Episcopal Church.
Representatives from member churches of RCS attended informational meetings to learn about the soup kitchen concept and went back to their respective churches to communicate what they had learned. Momentum and interest in the program continued to grow, and when the vote came up at a regular meeting of RCS, the project received unanimous approval.
RCS formed a committee with Burton Whiteside as its chairman after the approval. Sister Angela Mary Parker, who had been serving as a fifth-grade teacher at Saint Paul's Catholic School, became available to work as a full-time soup kitchen director.
Her appointment received unanimous approval from the RCS Board.
RCS officially opened at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church on Bern Street on November 5, 1984. Almost a year later, on August 19, 1985, RCS opened its new and first standalone building.
