Community Engagement

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The Carteret County Democratic Party and the Carteret County Democratic Women work with various service organizations to respond to the needs of our community. Check here often to see what we’re doing and what we are planning next!

Current Activities

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Women’s Build Campaign: Carteret County Habitat for Humanity.

This project begins in March. We will be on the building site on Wednesdays and Fridays.

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Past Activities

7 Weeks of Giving,1 Incredible Community

Because of you, we made a difference. See the highlights of our journey together . . . .

As 2026 opened, a statewide community service initiative was launched by the North Carolina Democratic Party, joined by the Carteret County Democratic Party. The initiative, known as the 7 Weeks of Giving, focused on a unique and local community service project each week for seven consecutive weeks, individual outreaches led by a different precinct, or team of precincts, within the county. Precincts were challenged to take the lead for one of the seven weeks, plan and implement a community service project, coordinating with local organizations to access and meet needs. People in all precincts donated items for all the weeks organized by other precincts, integrating each smaller project into one overall collaborative effort. Thirteen precincts, as well as Carteret County Democratic Officers, Young Democrats, and Carteret County Democratic Women, rose to the challenge, providing the opportunity to transform party values into action. “In communities across North Carolina, people are feeling the strain of rising costs, underfunded public services, and widening gaps in support,” said Roy Surrett, Chair of the Carteret County Democratic Party. “This effort is about Carteret County Democrats showing up for one another, working in our community, and meeting these challenges with compassion, cooperation, and meaningful action.” Throughout the winter months during which the initiative took place, volunteers utilized the time to build relationships within their community, spread goodwill throughout the length of the county, and invite engagement and new member involvement.

Week 1: Helping the Homeless Community

The first week of the project opened with efforts by the Carteret County Democratic Officers and Young Democrats to support the homeless population in the area. The groups coordinated with Pastor Joseph Park of St. James United Methodist Church in Newport, who visits his local homeless community each weekend. He has worked to assist this community, the county’s largest homeless camp, for the past three years. Accompanying him are members of his own church, members of other area churches, and citizens of the general community with a heart to serve.

According to Pastor Park, the donations collected and donated by the Democratic Officers and Young Democrats included over twenty sleeping bags, seven tents, three gas heaters, inflatable mattresses, clothes, and blankets. Some have already been put to use within the homeless camp, while other items have been placed in the church’s donation storage room, to be distributed in the camp as needs arise. Across the country, temperatures this winter have dropped to the lowest averages seen in decades, making the groups’ collection of winter items all the more impactful for the camp residents. According to the pastor, they are always in need of those willing to partner with them on behalf of the camp.

“My Christian values dictate what to do, and my understanding of that is you take care of the least of these. This was an opportunity to do just that,” said Liz Becker, 3rd Vice Chair of CCDP, after her focused week of service. She feels that the initiative gave people the opportunity to serve, as well as educate them on the local needs. As for the future, she states, “we want to continue supporting the homeless. I’m sure other precincts are feeling the same way about those they’ve worked with.”

Volunteers also coordinated with Family Promise to assist with fundraising for the Exodus project, a new, transitional housing effort focused on the prevention of homelessness, as well as assitance with integration back into the community.

Week 2: Foster Care Youth

The second week of the giving initiative, organized by Morehead City Precint 2, focused on Carteret County’s foster care youth. The group collected individual art supplies, organizing them into kits to be donated to Carteret County’s Guardian ad Litem program. There are over 100 children in foster care in the county, and those with cases of abuse and/or neglect are served by the Guardian ad Litem program.

The Morehead City precinct hoped to provide children in care with art therapy kits to encourage positive coping outlets for those who have experienced some level of trauma during their formative years. Over 100 kits were collected and put together by the volunteers, and then delivered to Antoinette Boskey, District Administrator for the county GAL program. Kits were then distributed to foster families served. Excess kits gave Boskey the opportunity to stock the program’s Kids’ Corner, allowing Guardian ad Litem volunteers, who cannot personally buy items for the children of their cases, to grab a donated item to work on with the children. It gave volunteers a level of generosity and connection they aren’t always able to provide.

Week 3: Food Banks

The precincts of Indian Beach, Salter Path, and Pine Knoll Shores worked together to organize a donation drive and meal service for Hope Mission of Coastal Carolina, located in Morehead City. Through the efforts of the volunteers, over 800 pounds of food were collected and donated to the food bank at Hope Mission.

The precincts also served lunch to 64 people at the mission’s soup kitchen on January 22. A Facebook statement from Hope Mission said, “We extend our deepest thanks and heartfelt appreciation to the Democratic Party for going above and beyond with an incredible food drive. Your generosity truly exceeded anything we could have imagined and blessed our mission in ways that will ripple through our community.”

Week 4: Caregiver Support

Beaufort Precinct 2, North River Precinct, and Newport Precincts 1 and 2 wanted to extend appreciation for the caregivers who work tirelessly to support the elders of the community during their week of service. “As a retired RN, I knew from my forty years of experience just how dedicated caregivers are that work with the elderly in long-term care facilities,” said Helene Kelly, Secretary of North River precinct. “Their work is often intense, busy, and hours can be long…To have the local Democratic Party recognize their dedication and hard work, even through hot pizzas, was an extra treat to show we care.” Volunteers gathered donations and were able to deliver more than 50 pizzas to caregivers at several senior care facilities throughout the county, including Brookdale Senior Living, Crystal Coast Hospice, Pruitt Crystal Coast, and Croatan Ridge, as well as Broad Street Clinic, and Embassy Healthcare.

Week 5: Animal Shelters

Four precincts, including Emerald Isle, Wildwood, and Morehead City 1 and 4, joined forces to organize week five’s service project in support of area animal shelters and rescues. Nine people, three from each area, helped out with a physical clean-up of the Carteret County Humane Society in Newport in February. Additionally, an animal shelter and rescue donation drive received a large amount of supplies, including nearly 500 pounds of dry food, 800 pairs of gloves, and enough detergent for almost 600 loads of laundry. The organizations also received wet food, cat litter, pet beds, leashes, and numerous other resources necessary for continued maintenance of the animals. These were distributed to the Carteret County Humane Society, the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter, Misplaced Mutts, and Island Cat Allies. Michelle Sullivan, Chair of the Emerald Isle precinct, said that “many in the Emerald Isle precinct have pets and are involved in these organizations, as well as other animal organizations, such as Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol. It was easy to choose this effort for the program. We have great members who are committed to come out and donate and work.”

Week 6: The Environment

Week six was a celebration of love for coastal Carolina and outreach efforts reflected a desire to maintain its natural beauty for future generations of North Carolinians. On February 13, volunteers participated in a reusable bag distribution at the Beaufort Food Lion. Beaufort 1 precinct partnered with the Sierra Club and distributed over 300 reusable bags to community members.

Week 7: Community Workers

The Carteret County Democratic Women chose to say thank you to the county’s public school teachers for their daily dedication and commitment to tomorrow’s leaders. The women put together candy baskets for all eighteen public schools in the district, delivering them just as Valentine’s Day arrived.

Bonus Project: Carteret SPEAK

Victim advocate Caprice Pratt of Carteret SPEAK, a county sexual violence center and formerly the Carteret County Rape Crisis Program, oversees a support group for women who’ve experienced sexual violence. The group meets weekly to offer support through education, a meal shared, and art therapy. The Peletier precinct of Carteret County Democrats responded to Pratt’s inquiry for assistance as the year opened. Volunteers coordinated to provide meals for the January and February support group meals, and have plans for continued meal support efforts for March, May, and beyond. “Brighten the corner where you are!” said Kitty Orsmby, Peletier Precinct Chair. She believes this is the best way for each of us to improve our world.