Family Matters: Success at Tar River Region’s 2nd Annual Oktoberfest.
If you looked around at the crowd gathered last Saturday, October 17 at St. Peter’s Spiritual Life Center in Greenville, you’d notice a trend: family is all around in the Tar River region. From the
father-son duo bartending to the mother-daughter team from Circle of Parents, family shows up together in Tar River. Laughter echoed through the room, bingo numbers were called, and supporters gathered around tables filled with delicious German food and conversation, but the heart of the second annual Oktoberfest was resilience.
The evening showcased the people, partnerships, and programs that are transforming lives across the Tar River Region every day. At this year’s Oktoberfest, supporters gathered on a rainy evening and raised over $29,000 to support Catholic Charities, but the true focus was on something deeper: helping guests understand not only what Catholic Charities does, but how it creates such lasting change.
Throughout the night, Rudy Kellerman acted as emcee to welcome guests and guide the program full of incredible speakers, including CEO Lisa Perkins and Program Director Kim Gaskins who highlighted the power of walking alongside families through life’s challenges. Perkins also made note of Tar River’s expansive reach through their community garden efforts and Lettuce Love campaign, where “families received buckets with soil and seeds, along with mentorship and peer support to help them grow vegetables at home. Instead of only receiving fresh produce from our food pantry, families have an opportunity to grow something themselves and experience the satisfaction of harvesting food they’ve nurtured.”
The evening’s most powerful moment came from speaker CeCy, whose story brings Catholic Charities mission to life. CeCy and their mother, Amalia, had their first introduction to Catholic Charities through picking up groceries from the food pantry. Soon this led them to becoming a part of the Circle of Parents program where CeCy witnessed firsthand the value of community, mentorship, and support. CeCy and her mother quickly realized that their visits to the Greenville office were about much more than food. What began as a resource for her mother became a foundation that helped shape CeCy’s future, providing encouragement, educational opportunities, and connections that ultimately helped her become the first person in her family to attend college. Now a student studying psychology at East Carolina University, CeCy shared how Circle of Parents played a role in helping her navigate the path toward higher education and achieve milestones once considered of reach, and it all started with a visit for food.
The evening concluded with plenty of laughter as Steve Merenda entertained guests as the bingo caller, keeping the crowd engaged between games and prizes. As supporters headed home, they left with more than memories of a fun Oktoberfest celebration. They left with a clearer understanding of how resilience is built: through relationships, community, and the unwavering belief that every person deserves the opportunity to thrive.
