DUBLIN, Ga. — Several people came together to celebrate the naming of Dublin's resource center and food pantry's clothes closet.
The Katherine W. Gray Resource Center, which has been open since Nov. 18, 2023, held the celebration and naming thanks to receiving funding from the Parker Foundation to open up the food pantry and clothes closet.
The center is named after a former employee, Marissa Brown-O'Neal, who passed away earlier this year.
Jackie Curtis, the Regional Director of Communities and Schools Of Georgia in Laurens and Twiggs County remembered Brown-O'Neal fondly, recalling how hard she worked to organize all of the clothing and to help with all the distributions offered by the resource center.
Brown-O'Neal's husband, mom, dad, daughter, son and pastor were all in attendance to see the clothes closet receive a new name: Marissa's Closet.
They were shocked by the initial announcement but were so thankful to see someone so close to them honored.
The resource center itself looks to get out into the Laurens County community quite often. The Laurens County's Oconee Regional Library has hosted pop-up libraries at the resource center. These involved being able to check books in and out, and even having story times and arts and crafts activities with the kids.
The resource center also would offer daily free blood pressure and blood sugar checks and partnered with organizations that offer COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
In April, the center hosted a seminar on maternal health, teaching about prenatal and postnatal care, and what risks or symptoms to watch out for after leaving the hospital. It was taught by OBGYNs, mid-level practitioners and a midwife and was a partnership with Fairview Park Hospital and Southside Community Association.