CARTERET COUNTY, NC (March 12, 2024) – The Carteret County Department of Social Services (DSS) received a $5,447 donation from Jim Dandy Convenience Stores and Coca-Cola Consolidated to support local foster care programs.

The donation resulted from a month-long campaign held in December. During the campaign, a portion of the sales from each Coca-Cola bottle sold at Jim Dandy stores in Carteret and Craven counties went towards the cause. Coca-Cola Consolidated then matched the funds raised, with an additional contribution from Mondelēz International bringing the total to $5,447.

“It is strong community partnerships like this that allow us to invest in the lives of our children in foster care,” said Jessica Adams, director of Carteret County DSS. “This generous contribution will help us expand after-school learning opportunities, strengthen connections within the community for these children, and alleviate financial burdens associated with these programs, ultimately allowing more children to remain in family or kinship homes.”

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Jim Dandy and Coca-Cola Consolidated have joined forces to support the Carteret County Foster Care program. Their combined efforts have raised a total of $19,197 over the past four years.

"We are touched by the growing response from our store teams and customers who rallied to show their support for youth in need in our community,” said Ieva Grimm, Chief Operating Officer for Jim Dandy.

Carteret County currently has 64 children in foster care, with 34 placed with relatives like aunts, uncles or grandparents.

For more information about the Foster Care Program, how to donate and to learn about the opportunity to become a foster parent, contact the Carteret County Department of Social Services at 252-728-3181 or Gabrielle.Claros@carteretcountync.gov.

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