CORA’S
Testimonials
Testimonials/References
From
the Fayetteville Press owned by JJ Jones, ran August 2005...
ORDERING HER
STEPS
Founder of
CORA'S-Lynda Branch
Co-Founder-Thomas Branch, Jr.
Minister Lynda Branch saw a need in the community and decided she needed to do
her part helping to lift it up. Mrs. Branch has seen too many of our
youth lost to drugs, alcohol, jail and the streets. She wants them
to know that there is a better day.
Branch's steps were ordered through her many positions as a social studies
instructor, a radio sales manager, a billing clerk and an office manager.
She left her paid positions to become a volunteer in the clothing and
food pantry at Operation Blessing and eventually becoming the director of AAA
Crisis Pregnancy Center.
As her vision to see individuals become fisherman for a lifetime and not just
for a day grew, Branch, along with her retired husband took a step to help
others by reaching out to educate and bring hope, healing and wholeness.
She embrace her ministry to equip people to help themselves obtain a
better job and improve their quality of life. With this mission
statement, CORA'S, Community Outreach Assistance Services, a non-profit program
was started. CORA'S has three offices in three location on Hay Street,
Ramsey Street, and Gillespie Street off highway 301.
Classes are offered in Career/Financial planning, GED classes, basic computer
training, drug and alcohol program. Services also include prenatal care
classes as well as youth outreach ministries, abstinence program and post
abortion counseling.
Cora's Teen Talk features the youth of today performing through skits, praise
dancing and personal testimonies. The presentation involve skits with
engaging tops: parental relationships, peer pressure, drugs, guns,
violence, education, music, suicide, sex and teen pregnancy. The ministry
will encourage, uplift, motivate and educate the entire family. LET'S
TALK TO OUR YOUTH AND NOT AT THEM!! Minister Branch's pastor, Tommy Hall,
the pastor at Fayetteville Assembly of God recommends Cora's Teen talk to
anyone who would like to reach their youth in a very real and positive way.
The information is vital to share with our youth. After performing
twice at Anderson Creek Christian Center, Minister Jeanette Elliott recommends
the group for its unique style of reaching the youth. The skits share and
teach many lessons, it allows the youth to see the consequences from the
decision they make.
There is also a program women and moms that in a crisis situation. It is
called "Earn While You Learn".
CORA'S, Community Outreach Assistance Services, can be contacted via the
internet at corasnc.org or by calling (910) 797-4918 or (910) 822-6727.
Volunteers, monetary, new and used baby clothing are needed. All
donations are tax-deductible.
**********************************
From Fayetteville Observer
Published on Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Helping hand extends her reach
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|
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Staff photo by Myron B.
Pitts |
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Lynda Branch, left, founder of Community Out-Reach Assistance
Services, speaks during the opening ceremony for the organization’s latest
location, which is on Hay Street. |
Lynda Branch is all energy.
She
moves and talks fast.
You
see her one place, turn around and she’s there, too.
She
frames big ideas in a few words, or she can lay them out in detail. She may
shed tears when she speaks passionately on an issue.
Branch
was running on all cylinders recently when she opened a new office to do what
she does best — extend a helping hand to folks who need one.
Branch
opened an office for Cora’s, which stands for Community Out-Reach Assistance
Services, on Hay Street. The name Cora is for Branch’s late grandmother, who
also liked to help people.
There
are two other locations on Ramsey and Gillespie streets.
The
nonprofit Christian program offers a range of services including youth
outreach, a drug and alcohol program, GED and computer training classes, career
planning, prenatal care and post-abortion counseling.
Branch
welcomed 40 guests, many of them volunteers she has worked with before.
She
said people are in need.
“The
streets, the jail yard and the grave is going to get them,” she said. “We let
them know there is a better day.”
Later,
Branch and others cut a ribbon at the entrance to the suite of offices.
Deidra
Elliott believes in what Branch is doing. She said a Bible study focused on
post-abortion counseling helped her cope with three past abortions.
“I
got a deliverance,” she said. “I had to realize I needed to forgive myself.”
Through
Cora’s, Branch works with community partners, such as the AFTERMATH program,
which assisted Elliott and is run by Rhonda Barnes.
A
key component of Cora’s is Teen Talk, which is made up of teenagers who perform
plays that tackle topics from premarital sex to suicide.
In
a letter, minister Robin Kay Monk called the Teen Talk performance “both
relevant and boldly thought-provoking” after the teens came to First Baptist
Church on Moore Street.
Branch
says of her teens: “They are awesome.”
Youth
Explosion 2006 is set for Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Fayetteville
Assembly of God on Gillespie Street.
Many hats
Branch
founded Cora’s with husband Thomas Branch Jr., a retired 82nd Airborne soldier.
She
has worn many hats in her time. She is a licensed minister, has earned a
bachelor’s degree and is working on a master’s.
She
worked for five years with Operation Blessing, beginning as a volunteer in the
food pantry and eventually serving as director of the AAA Crisis Pregnancy
Center.
She
taught social studies at Fayetteville Technical Community College. She was a
sales manager in radio and an office manager and billing clerk for doctors.
She
said all her experience has been God “ordering her steps,” preparing her for
the work she is now doing.
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