New Beginnings 4U Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves individuals and families in some of the area’s most marginalized communities without regard to race, belief, age, gender, national origin, familial status, or socio-economic status.
New Beginnings 4U was birthed in the heart and home of Mary Hodges Dunn, mother of Celeste Richards. Mary loved working in her church and community helping those in need. She realized that many of the families with whom she had contact ‘fell through the crack’ between need and eligibility for assistance from government programs or just didn’t know where to turn.
Because of her compassion and desire to help end or at least lessen their burdens and after much thought and prayer, she began seeking resources for food and clothing to help her neighbors and friends. She enlisted the assistance of her daughter, Celeste, who worked faithfully by her side providing needs-specific items to families throughout southeast Raleigh.
After many years of service to the community, Mary became ill and eventually unable to continue her labor of love. Mary passed April 11, 2022, but her vision did not perish. Celeste embodies the spirit, passion, and zeal of her mother and determined that the vision would continue as a legacy to her mom despite her own growing health concerns.
Her determination and drive coupled with her ability and capability to find resources, build relationships, and collaborate became her ‘toolkit.’ With her ‘toolkit’ and a strategic plan to enlarge the coasts of her mother’s vison, Celeste grew New Beginnings 4U from a community project to a 501(c)(3) organization serving Wake, Franklin, Granville, and Durham Counties.
Her vision also broadened from food and clothing to entail more needs-specific items so that beneficiaries of the services would be able to reduce personal and household expenses thereby enabling them to better manage other debts.
This forward-thinking, hands-on concept has helped hundreds of families, especially senior citizens and veterans, across New Beginnings’ service areas (Wake, Franklin, Granville, Durham and Surrounding Areas) gain greater self-sufficiency, stability, and sustainability.