SILER CITY — Love Chatham, the Chatham County homeless shelters organization, has named Dakota Philbrick as its program director, tasking him with developing and overseeing an emergency sheltering plan, as well as growing its network of volunteers and donors.
Earlier this year, CCNCHS was one of the beneficiaries of the United Way of Chatham County’s Issue-Based Grant that provided much needed funding to a few local organizations. Love Chatham used part of those funds, along with generous private donations, to establish a program director position. Over the last few months, the group’s board took applications from all over the region and vetted many great candidates, but after a round of interviews unanimously selected Philbrick.
Philbrick has been a volunteer with Love Chatham since its inception. He is a graduate of Chatham Central High School and Appalachian State University, where he majored in Business Management and CIS. Over the last 15 years Philbrick has gained experience in accounting principles, project management, information technologies, and small business entrepreneurship all over the southeast before moving back to N.C. in 2020.
“The combination of his established skills and training along with his familiarity and heart for the initiatives of Love Chatham made him a standout candidate and an obvious choice,” said CCNCHS board member Edwin Argueta.
“He impressed us all with his interview and I think he’s going to be great,” added Treasurer and Executive Director Mack Neeves.
“I am beyond blessed to have the confidence of this organization that I love and I want to help it continue to grow and do good in our community.” Philbrick said. “I think God wants to show His love abundantly through the things Love Chatham is doing. My life verse is Isaiah 41:10: ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.’ I want to be a part of passing on that same kind of hope to others. We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us, so I’m ready to get to work!”
The most pressing challenge is to find a more affordable and sustainable way to house those experiencing homelessness this winter. The board and other volunteers have already been developing a program modeled after Family Promise in Lee County, where a rotation of churches could house at least some of the more vulnerable clients for short periods of time. The plan is to begin testing that approach in smaller-scale situations in the coming weeks.
“We’re in a very Luke 10:2 situation,” Philbrick added. “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Love Chatham is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization started by local churches with a desire to love and provide for those experiencing homelessness and hunger to the Glory of God. You can donate, volunteer, or find out more at chathamhomeless.org or 919-726-9976.