Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, Inc. Civic Club Beginnings The following account by Boys and Girls Homes founder A.D. Peacock, from his book To Save A Boy, illustrates how civic clubs became involved in the work of Boys and Girls Homes. Peacock, owner of a funeral home in Whiteville, NC, tells the following: "On a late October afternoon in 1954 I took the body of a mother of four boys and three girls to the family home in the Western Prong community. The body was to remain in the front room of the home until the funeral services set for the following day. The weather was cold, with the hint of a hard frost or freeze in the air, and everything from the leafless trees to the early sunset suggested that winter would soon be here. It was more than the bleak weather and landscape, however, that sent a chill to my heart as I entered that house. I had seen much misfortune, and I knew that this family was indeed needy. In no way, though, was I prepared for what I now saw. In order to keep warm, the seven children had gone to bed, their only cover being ragged quilts and burlap bags ripped open and spread across the bed. They had gone to bed hungry, for there was no food in the house. In the small shabby living room, where I placed the mother in her casket, I noticed a small tin heater, but no wood to start a fire. Nor was there any to burn in the old-fashioned cookstove, had any food been available to the youngsters. The father? Perhaps he would show up later. Per haps not. No one was at home except seven cold, hungry children - all between four and twelve years old - and their mother lying in a casket. As my eyes took in the loveless, desolate surroundings and the children's predicament, the old feeling of helplessness now stronger than ever, settled over me like a pall. With an effort I shook it from me, and as I left that house, I knew I had to take some kind of action - and fast. On my way back to Whiteville, I mentally formed a rough plan. I knew the Civitans were meeting that evening. I was already late, but hurriedly parked my car and ran into the meeting room. As I now recall the scene, I once again believe that what happened then must have been preordained, for on that very night the organization had chosen to discuss what it might do to make the children of some destitute family happy at Christmastime. The chairman had barely announced the subject when I jumped to my feet. 'Gentlemen, I think I have the project...but we can't wait until Christmas.' I then told them about the seven children in Western Prong. As I described their desperate need, the Civitans forgot their unfinished meals - or maybe they had lost their appetites - to listen with something akin to spellbound horror. The exact, right words seemed to spring to my tongue as I continued. They accomplished what I had hoped for, affecting the members deeply. When I had finished, the Civitan president, rose and told two of the members to stand by the door, and for the others as they left, to drop whatever they felt they could afford into a proffered hat. The proceeds would go to help the children. A count of the money, after the last member had contributed, totaled $176!" To Save A Boy, The Story of Boys Home N. Carolina. A.D. Peacock as told to Edward Uhlan, Exposition Press, NY. 1971. Similar stories can be told regarding all our civic supporters. The following account comes from the book A Brief History of LIONISM in NORTH CAROLINA 1922-1966. "Boys Home was chartered in December of 1954 for the purpose of providing a home of Christian environment for neglected, underprivileged, and in some cases, homeless boys. Daniel L. Todd, representing Lionism, was among the Columbus County citizens who founded Boys Home. A.D. Peacock, another founder and the first executive director, became a member of the Lake Waccamaw Lions Club upon the establishment of Boys Home in that community.....At the State Convention in Asheville, June 11, 1957, the Lake Waccamaw Lions Club sponsored a resolution designed to gain support of Boys Home on a state wide basis. The resolution was ably presented by Deputy District Governor Avery Thompson and A.D. Peacock. Others speaking with force and enthusiasm were Stacy Budd, Wallace I. West, Dr. M. Henderson Rourk, and Roy A. Sandlin. The resolution was adopted, (1) established Boys Home as a statewide project based on voluntary contributions; (2) provided for the establishment of 'The North Carolina Lions' Committee for Assistance to Boys Home,' its membership to consist of nine Lions--one appointed by each district governor with the State Council designating the chairman; and (3) set forth that this committee 'will be responsible for establishing, guiding, directing and promoting the project; for receiving and accounting for all funds collected through Lions clubs in behalf of Boys Home and the purposes for which said funds are to be used.' Although the resolution provided the framework for proceeding with the project--the initial objective being to finance the construction of Lions Cottage--the district were not fully organized and functioning until the 1959-60 club year. However, some of the clubs and individual Lions were already contributing. The first contributions were made in 1957 by clubs in 31-f through the efforts of District Governor Wm. B. Farmer." A Brief History of LIONISM in NORTH CAROLINA 1922-1966. Authorized and Published by the North Carolina Lions State Council and The North Carolina Past District Governors Organization, Edwards and Broughton Company. Raleigh, N.C. 1966 If you have or know of a similar anecdote about your organization's involvement with Boys and Girls Homes of NC, please e-mail us at bgh-1@bghnc.org
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