CAHEC Foundation Hosts Back-to-School Event for Affordable Housing Residents in Wilmington

In a collaborative effort to support education and community development, the CAHEC Foundation recently hosted a back-to-school event at Cypress Cove, an affordable housing complex in Wilmington, North Carolina. The event, which took place on August 16th, was a joint initiative with Truist and Remnant Management, Inc., aimed at providing essential school supplies and resources to families in need.

The event saw an impressive turnout, with over 200 residents participating. Volunteers distributed 150 backpacks filled with crucial school supplies, including notebooks, folders, crayons, and pencils. This initiative demonstrates the significant impact that community-driven efforts can have on supporting education and alleviating financial burdens for families in affordable housing communities.

Beyond the distribution of supplies, the event offered engaging activities for children, including a station where they could personalize water bottles. The organizers also provided refreshments, serving pizza and Italian Ice to all attendees, creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere for the community gathering.

Truist, a key partner in the event, took an active role by sending volunteers to engage with residents about their banking needs. In an effort to promote financial literacy, they organized a Financial Fraud trivia game for parents, combining education with entertainment.

Stefanie Lee, Community Relations Manager for CAHEC, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, "We were honored to work with Truist to provide backpacks and necessary school supplies to the residents at Cypress Cove. Providing resources that help children have a successful start to the school year is an impactful experience to have. Events like this are what brings communities together!"

This back-to-school event is part of a broader initiative by the CAHEC Foundation to support residents in their communities. As a community investment organization based in Raleigh, NC, and Columbia, SC, CAHEC is committed to offering housing and life-changing opportunities throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

CAHEC's multifaceted approach to community development includes investing in low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, and renewable energy credits. The organization also provides loan programs, wellness and education initiatives for residents, affordable housing development, and property management services.

The success of this event underscores the importance of partnerships between community organizations, financial institutions, and property management companies in addressing the needs of underserved communities. By providing essential school supplies and educational resources, these collaborative efforts contribute to creating a more equitable starting point for students from low-income families.

As the new school year approaches, initiatives like this back-to-school event play a crucial role in ensuring that children have the tools they need to succeed academically. The CAHEC Foundation's commitment to hosting more resident events in the future signals an ongoing dedication to community support and development.

For those interested in seeing the impact of the event firsthand, a video recap is available online. This visual documentation serves as a testament to the positive influence that community-focused events can have on residents of affordable housing communities.

As organizations like CAHEC continue to invest in communities through various programs and initiatives,