For more than 22 years, the White Oak Foundation has transformed the lives of thousands of North Carolina residents. The Apex-based nonprofit exists “to serve and empower our community by supplying a caring and nurturing environment through community outreach programming that addresses and resolves the educational, socioeconomic, housing, and professional needs of men, women, children, and the elderly.” Though its mission statement is simple, the foundation’s effects have been profound as it meets the urgent needs of individuals in Wake, Durham, Chatham, Lee, Harnett, Johnston and Orange counties.
The foundation is affiliated with the longstanding White Oak Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1621 White Oak Church Road. Established by sharecroppers in 1865 after the Civil War had ended, the church strengthened into a community institution during the 20th century, with members establishing the nonprofit White Oak Foundation 133 years later. The foundation is located across the street from the church in a new building constructed in 2019, the result of a 10-year journey for White Oak.
White Oak has had a deep, historical connection with the people of the region and knows how to address the specific problems they face. It works diligently to keep families in their homes by preventing foreclosure and ensures individuals are fed through its food bank distribution. It also provides scholarships to those seeking to prepare for the future and educates potential homebuyers and renters.
Regenia Sanders, Compliance and Human Resource Officer for the White Oak Foundation, explains, “We strive to supply a range of care; it makes us unique. What makes our program work is our volunteers and the extensive network of connections and partnerships – private and government – across the state that allows us to provide a variety of services. We focus on housing support, food security with a clothing closet, senior and youth programming, and crisis assistance.”
Connecting with the Community
Families come to White Oak in various ways. “As an outgrowth ministry of White Oak Missionary Baptist Church, our work has been known in our community of over 40 churches for many years. Word of mouth, our website, Facebook and participation in multiple local service groups give us increased visibility. Additionally, our partnerships with other organizations provide a significant community awareness of what we do,” Sanders says.
She adds, “The foundation does not discriminate based on race, but our focus has been uplifting generations of Black folks in the area so they may enjoy a life free from financial instability, poverty and discrimination. These services are provided to low- and moderate-income families whose individual income does not exceed 80% of the area median income.”
The foundation’s staff members work in accordance with the guidance set forth by its board of directors and Executive Director Charles R. Tyner, Sr., whom the foundation proudly views as its visionary. “Our board is 60% female and 94% Black. To ensure that our board reflects the needs of the community we serve, 20% are low- and moderate-income residents,” Sanders explains. “We employ two full-time HUD-approved housing specialists and one part-time intake specialist. All three are Black women and members of the low- to moderate- income White Oak community.” For the rest of its operations, the foundation relies on a dedicated network of 11 full-time volunteers.
White Oak has reached pivotal milestones, including saving more than 550 homes from foreclosure, awarding scholarships for college students, and providing medical care, dental care, rental assistance, utility assistance and emergency housing for those in need. With assistance from the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC, it has distributed more than 6 million pounds of food since 2014. More has been donated with the help of other organizations.
Sanders adds, “We became the go-to organization for many who could not react as quickly as White Oak. During multiple state and national disasters, White Oak adopted families, providing many services from full relocation to sending trucks loaded with clothing, food and water supplies.
As its motto, “Caring for the Total Person” indicates, White Oak’s crisis management team has joined forces with KOG Integrated Healthcare, which occupies the first floor of the foundation’s new building, to ensure the under-insured and uninsured have access to quality healthcare.
Addressing Food Insecurity
One of White Oak’s key missions is to provide adequate and nutritious food to an increasing number of area households. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected thousands of families in North Carolina, and data from Feeding America has shown a 38% increase of food-insecure individuals in Central and Eastern North Carolina since the pandemic began.
White Oak’s food pantry is open to anyone in need. It obtains fresh produce, meats and bakery items from local retailers, and food distribution is handled at the church. The pantry operates two days a week (currently Wednesdays and Fridays, noon-2 p.m.) and no reservations are needed to receive food. To limit the spread of COVID-19, White Oak – which had previously allowed clients to come inside the facility to select their food – now provides curbside, contact-free distribution of food boxes. It also fulfills requests for emergency food boxes and has partnered with Meals on Wheels to deliver food to seniors. To learn more about the pantry, visit whiteoakfoundationnc.org/food-bank.
Thanks to generous food donations, hundreds of families across the region were able to enjoy wholesome meals of meat, fresh vegetables and dry goods at Thanksgiving and Christmas. With a partner, White Oak led an adoption project that helped 50 families with children receive toys and clothing for Christmas.
Coping with the Pandemic
White Oak has witnessed the pandemic’s damaging effects not only on the nation, but throughout Wake and nearby counties. “The pandemic has certainly been a driving factor in the increased needs we see in housing assistance, food security and crisis assistance (utility, rent and medical)” Sanders notes. “Low- to moderate-income housing availability in our area has been and remains a critical need that we are also working to address.”
Many vital services that families depend on from White Oak – such as interactions and meetings for counseling and crisis assistance – must now be conducted over the phone or online. White Oak has also seen the pandemic shake up its volunteerism. “The foundation is driven by volunteers and it is the consistent volunteer that is most needed,” she says. “Physical volunteers are welcome; however, due to COVID-19, volunteerism is limited and much caution is used as people volunteer.” She adds that when White Oak runs a targeted event – such as COVID-19 testing, free health clinics, special food distributions and senior activity days – getting volunteers can become even more critical.
COVID-19 Testing and Blood Drive Events
White Oak – in cooperation with KOG Integrated Healthcare, Goshen Medical Center and The Blood Connection – recently hosted three well-attended events at White Oak Missionary Baptist Church featuring COVID-19 drive-thru rapid response testing; two offered a blood drive. White Oak recently submitted paperwork to become a COVID-19 vaccine inoculation site in partnership with several medical professionals.
Ways to Help
One of the foundation’s biggest challenges is its general operating expense. “We currently run two very old box trucks to pick up food and provide other logistical assistance, like delivering donated furniture. The fuel and repair are a monthly challenge,” Sanders says. “We no longer have the car that was donated to us and used for seniors’ appointments, hot meal delivery and activity pickup. We currently rely on donations for personal protective equipment and sanitizing supplies. Many, including the Apex Police Department, have provided significant assistance in this area.”
White Oak appreciates donations of food, gently used clothing and furniture from individuals and small community groups as it anticipates growth in all of its target areas: food security, housing availability and assistance, crisis assistance, and senior and youth programming. Financial donations are also welcome and can be made online or mailed directly to the foundation.
To volunteer, call White Oak at 919-362-6799 and ask to speak to Regenia Sanders, who also serves as volunteer coordinator for the foundation.
Future Projects
White Oak is working on several projects that will benefit community members of all ages, including a senior day care to be operated a minimum of five days a week, a child daycare, affordable townhouses, and a senior living facility. Depending on how the COVID-19 situation evolves, White Oak’s certified housing counselor will continue to offer home buyer education classes online and in-person (with limited seating) this year.
“We are problem solvers and we don’t turn anyone down,” Sanders says. “We have all lived in the shoes of the people we serve. We know their world and want to address the needs we recognize because of our own experiences.”
To learn more about White Oak Foundation, visit
whiteoakfoundationnc.org or facebook.com/wofoundationapex.classes online and in-person (with limited seating) this year.
“We are problem solvers and we don’t turn anyone down,” Sanders says. “We have all lived in the shoes of the people we serve. We know their world and want to address the needs we recognize because of our own experiences.”
To learn more about White Oak Foundation, visit whiteoakfoundationnc.org or facebook.com/wofoundationapex.
