More than 1,600 people gathered Friday at Durham Rescue Mission for the group’s Easter giveaway on East Main Street, where volunteers handed out free meals, bicycles, baskets, clothing, and groceries.
Nearly 300 volunteers helped run the event. Organizers gave away 50 new bicycles, about 1,400 Easter baskets for children, about 4,000 pieces of clothing, and hundreds of bags of groceries.
- The food included thousands of pounds of barbecue and hot dogs, along with carnival-style games set up for families.
- Durham Rescue Mission President and CEO Rob Tart said rising gas prices and inflation were adding pressure for families and called the event a place where people could get help at no cost.
- Akia Mills said she drove from Reidsville with her three children for the second straight year. Alayah Ruffin, a Durham middle school student, said families were thankful for the giveaway.
The event drew families from Durham and beyond for a day built around food, raffles, and giveaway lines, with hundreds of grocery bags and thousands of clothing items moving out from the East Main Street campus.