Collaborative for the Common Good

VISION

The vision for the Wingate University Community House is to serve as both a bridge between the university campus and the broader community, and a unique manifestation of Wingate University’s aspiration to be a laboratory of difference making. This historic house on Main Street will be transformed into a vibrant and welcoming space where people from all walks of life can come together to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the echoes of yesteryears, rhythms of today, and dreams of tomorrow. It will also be a home for dialogue, collaboration, and action on social, cultural and environmental challenges facing our community.

The Community House aspires to be a space where alliances flourish, lifelong learning germinates, and individuals are emboldened to become engaged stakeholders and trailblazers within the Wingate community and beyond.

MISSION

The mission of The Community House will be guided by leadership of the WU Collaborative for the Common Good (CCG) and a group of diverse advisors and volunteers affectionately known as the ‘Pit Crew.’ Its mission is to serve as a dynamic nexus and hospitable haven, cultivating synergies and cooperation between the university campus and the broader community, with the aim of revitalizing Eastern Union County.

Through inclusive programming and meaningful engagement, The Community House aims to enrich educational experiences for Wingate students, celebrate a shared history and future, nurture a sense of belonging, inspire social responsibility, encourage dialogue, and address local challenges.

Grounded in this commitment to preserving history while embracing innovation, The Community House will be a welcoming space where individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together to learn, grow, and positively impact the shared future of the town of Wingate, including Wingate University.

Paws and Plates Kitchen Collective

Central to the mission of the Community House will be the establishment of a multi-facetted kitchen program -- Paws and Plates Kitchen Collective. The kitchen is the heart of the home and this initiative is the heart of The Community House. As a laboratory of difference making, it seeks to break barriers and promote inclusivity by providing a platform for culinary exchange and shared experiences. The Community House Kitchen Collective will be the home for many activities and programs:

• Site for Union County DHHS senior nutrition programming for Marshville (mornings 5 days a week) including delivery of meals and on-site health programming
• Employment for Wingate Forward students and support structure for Julia’s Community
• Site for family cooking workshops and nutrition programming by WU Health Schools and Community organizations
• Classroom for Wingate University’s Food and Faith (REL 140) community engaged classes
• Site for Community meals involving community members, families, alumni, and donors
• Incubator space for Small food related businesses, especially to underserved populations living in our zipcode
• Pick Up location for Wingate University’s online Farmers Marketplace (an extension of the on-site Farmers Market Thursdays, 4-6pm at the corner of Main and Wilson)
• Space for table fellowship in the rooms adjacent to the kitchen
• Space for new community engagement courses (e.g., digital literacy within the Communications Department overseen by Dr. Daina Nathaniel
• Support Structure for hosting campus/community Music and Arts events (refreshments)

Each element of this collective aims to celebrate social and cultural diversity, empower civic engagement, foster a sense of belonging, cultivate entrepreneurial enterprises and economic mobility in under-served demographics, promote healthy lifestyles, and address food insecurity in our community.

However to achieve this financial and/or in-kind donations are needed. To refurbish this kitchen and supply the equipment and workspace up to the standards required for the programming listed above, $12,000 is needed plus any additional costs with installation.

• Larger capacity oven and stove top
• Refrigeration Workspace Area
• Food Warmer
• Standing Freezer
• Cabinet replacement and refurbishment
• Upgraded Sink and Dishwasher
• New countertops
• Island
• Refurbish flooring

By harnessing the power of food to unite people, build community, and spark conversations, the Paws and Plates Kitchen Collective embodies the vision and mission of The Community House and needs both campus and community support to make it a reality. Together, we cook, share, educate, and nourish body, mind and soul, manifesting the spirit of collaboration and goodwill that defines the essence of the Wingate University Community House.

Visit the CCG website HERE