LAURINBURG – Coy Moody believes she has “big shoes to fill,” as the new director of the Scotland County United Way, but with a to-do list already made out, she’s ready to tackle the job.

Moody took over as the agency’s executive director after Debbie Grant stepped down on April 2. Moody still plans to look to Grant for leadership and suggestions.

“She’s been good for the United Way. She is a great asset to our community,” Moody said of Grant. “I am lucky to have her close by to support and guide me through this transition.”

Moody also praised the efforts of the United Way’s board of directors. She said the strong board and the facts that they care about the community is part of what drew her to the position.

Moody is a Scotland County native and a 1993 graduate of Scotland High School.

She is a former board member of the Scotland County Humane Society and has worked in sales and marketing at Railroad Friction in Maxton for the last 16 years.

Because she is a native of the county, Moody feels strongly about helping the community.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to community work and community involvement,” Moody said.

Barbara Alexander, a former executive director of the United Way, praised Moody as a hard worker and believes her previous work with the organization will benefit the nonprofit.

“Coy being from Laurinburg will be a great asset to the United Way because people from Laurinburg know people from Laurinburg,” Alexander said. “It makes it easier to associate a familiar face with a nonprofit.”

Moody plans to put her work experience toward her new position; Moody hopes to use the marketing experience she gained at Railroad Friction to strengthen the United Way in Scotland County.

“Short term, I would like to grow our social media presence and develop a user friendly website for our community partners and our donors,” Moody said.

Moody also wants to make sure the community has a better understanding of what the United Way does to raise money for organizations in the community and how those services meet needs in the area.

“It’s an investment in our children, the youth in our county, for our families and our neighbors,” Moody said. “Our county does a good job coming together when there’s a need but I would like to see us come together regularly to promote the common good.”

The United Way’s Fundraising Campaigns provide financial support to organizations like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, The Firefighters Association, Scots for Youth, Special Olympics, Project In As Much, the Humane Society and the Red Cross.

People often live in their own little world day to day and sometimes don’t realize that needs like hunger or the expenses of the animal shelter exist and that there are agencies which exist to meet those needs Moody said.

Any person could need help from an agency supported by the United Way.

“It could be any of us at any moment; our house could burn down and we could need the Red Cross.” Moody said. “When [Hurricane] Matthew came through, it could have been us.”

Looking further down the road, Moody wants to expand the fund raising campaign to increase funding from business partners, individuals, schools and workplace campaigns.

Last year’s United Way Campaign goal was $265,000; this year local service organizations requests have exceeded that amount.

All in all Moody just wants to make a difference in the community.

“I love our small town and I have seen firsthand the powerful force we become when we work together,” Moody said.

https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Coy.jpg
Coy Moody began with the nonprofit in April

By Beth Lawrence

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Reach Beth Lawrence 910-506-3169