Out of the ashes of Covid-19, a new outreach ministry rises in Fuquay-Varina. Launched in April 2021, Operation Nahyelle, Inc. is the vision of its founder, Melonie Lanier Gilchrist, and a team of 15 likeminded volunteers consisting of family members and co-workers. Melonie explains that when Covid-19 hit, a lot of people lost their jobs, some lost their faith, and many fell into despair and hopelessness. She wanted to help. So, she and the team developed a mission statement for a ministry with the central purpose of restoring faith and providing opportunities for low-income families.
The new community resource is named for Melonie’s 12-year-old adopted daughter, Nahyelle. Nahyelle has been a bright spot in Melonie’s world, and has fed her vision to give back the blessings and positivity that have poured into her life. This is why Melonie is passionate about reaching out and sharing with people in her community.
Melanie is no stranger to service. She is currently the full-time Community Support Director for the Kraft Family YMCA. Part of her job involves going into the schools to find underserved kids and working with social workers to identify families who need support. She has helped launch outreach projects such as providing Thanksgiving meals and organizing Angel Trees. She has also joined in and helped others doing community mission work on weekends. Now, Melonie looks out her window and sees teens walking back and forth with nothing to do. She and her team have a vision and are developing a plan to eventually launch a teen outreach program as part of the mission.
Operation Nahyelle is a place where people can come to find help to meet their immediate food and material needs, but it also wants to be a resource center that connects people with the additional support they need to get back on their feet. Networking with other community ministries, like FACES, will make this possible. Through partnerships with local churches, community leaders, volunteers, and donors they have gotten off to a strong start.
In May, just over a month after launching the ministry, they held their first food distribution event in a parking lot in front of their building. Lisa Green of Marketing with a Twist provided the food that day. Originally, they estimated serving 75 families; instead, they ended up serving food to 150 families. Food donations have also come from missions like Western Wake Crisis Ministry, the Food Bank of NC in Raleigh, and through a food drive at the Kraft YMCA. New partnerships are still being formed with local organizations.
Melonie and team are diligently spreading the word about the new mission in town, and how Operation Nahyelle could assist those who need help. She walks the neighborhoods of our community and stops to talk to folks about the ministry and its services. She attends community meetings and connects with organizations like the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, local churches and businesses. The team reaches people through social media, through e-mail and simply by word of mouth. Melonie also has the unique opportunity to build relationships through the YMCA, where she runs a summer camp called Camp High Hopes. Through this venue, she will be able to connect with families of the youth and let them know that Operation Nahyelle is in Fuquay-Varina, and how the mission could serve their family.
Melonie says Operation Nahyelle provides the necessities such as food, clean clothing, toiletries and water to those in need. But, she says, it also offers them hope—that is, with God all things are possible, and He is able. This is the same hope the team has experienced themselves, the hope they want to share.
A team member is always ready to answer a call and will be available to provide food and help to individuals and families who need it. The operation is located at 800 S. Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC and can be reached at 919-285-2025 or 919-504-6633.
Operation Nahyelle’s Mission Statement:
Our mission is to restore faith and provide opportunities for low-income families. Operation Nahyelle, Inc. will partner with local churches, volunteers, community leaders, and donors to provide clean clothing, food, toiletries, and water to subsidized families. We strive to serve people of all races, ethnicities, creeds, gender and orientation. Our vision is to put faith into action through service to the community to ensure everyone’s essential needs are met.
