THE MORNING air had a bite of winter chill, carrying the scent of pine and coffee, and the parking lot at Elk River Trading Company was already full of activity. Families arrived carrying bags of canned goods, bundles of pet food, and bright winter coats. It was the third annual Day of Giving, and Fayetteville had turned out in full force.
Inside, the smell of breakfast sandwiches from Taqueria Los Saucedo collided with the warmth of fresh coffee, drawing people in from the chill. Kids darted between tables, eyes wide at the colorful coats and neatly stacked boxes. Volunteers moved purposefully, sorting donations carefully and exchanging smiles and grateful nods with everyone around them.
Every item would stay local, feeding families through Hands of Mercy, warming neighbors with coats, and caring for animals through the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Humane Society.
Rob Barnett, the man behind the event, paused amid the rush, watching neighbors help neighbors in real time.
“It’s about making a difference right here at home… everything stays here in the county, and you’re directly helping your neighbors.”
Outside, the morning stirred with even more life. WYTM radio broadcast live from their towering bucket truck, voices carried over the lot, calling out updates and thanking donors. Pickup trucks rolled in one after another, overflowing with food and supplies.
City and county officials, firefighters, and police officers rolled up their sleeves to help unload, laughter blended with the clatter of boxes. Even alderman Joseph Faulkner pitched in, handing a box of food to a volunteer and sharing a laugh with passersby.
Barnett said John Malone, the radio station owner, has also been a key supporter during the Day of Giving.
By midday, the team received more than 2,200 pounds of food, 75 coats, and over $8,000 in donations. Barnett remembered a moment from the early days that still inspired him: a man showing up with three cans, his last spare, because he remembered a time when he had nothing.
“Three cans can make a difference,” became the unspoken motto of the Day of Giving, reminding the community that generosity doesn’t have to be grand to matter.
As the trailers rolled away, packed full to the brim, neighbors hugged and waved goodbye, cheeks pink from the cold. The laughter persisted, the warmth persisted, and so did the reminder that in Fayetteville, giving back isn’t just a gesture, it’s a way of life. GN
