Serving others is her passion and for helping and serving the homeless community in Rowan and Mecklenburg counties through her nonprofit, The Lattimore Foundation, Zandrea Lattimore Jones was presented the Growing the Dream Award.

Jones received the award, which “recognizes community leaders who work hard, who are called to serve others and embrace service while helping others to grow,” during a special ceremony in Charlotte on Jan. 13.

Upon receiving the award, Jones said, “it was an honor to me, and I was actually shocked because I’ve been doing this for 12 years.”

Sharing that it’s not for the awards or to be validated as the reason why she does what she does, Jones said, “I do this because I genuinely want to help people, so to receive recognition and be nominated and awarded for something like this, it was an honor and I will continue to do work because I feel like it’s my purpose to give and to help others.”

A graduate of Livingstone College, Jones has a degree in psychology, a master’s in clinical psychology and works in counseling. 

But it’s her late grandmother, Gearald Ship, that she credits as the driving force behind her serving mindset.

“My grandmother was a very giving person, and I wanted to be like my grandmother,” Jones said.

The mother of 12, Ship, even though she didn’t have a lot, always gave back, Jones shared.

“She was a big giver.”

Jones’ nonprofit, The Lattimore Foundation, a 501(c)(3) was started 12 years ago and through this nonprofit, many in the community are helped and encouraged.

Jones stressed that people should understand that all homeless people are not drug addicts and not be afraid of them.

“Sometimes people just fall down on their luck and they need help,” Jones said. “So, I want people to understand that sometimes you just fall down and you might just need some help.”

And help and support is what she provides as the foundation does work both in Salisbury and Mecklenburg County, providing a number of services including feeding the homeless weekly in both areas, along with providing the homeless community resources for those looking to enter rehab and searching for housing.

“I help people that couldn’t get into the shelter,” said Jones, noting that there are many agencies that Mecklenburg County has that are not here in Rowan, “so I try to help people because it is freezing outside.”

She also provides assistance to those released from prison who are working to transition back into society by offering resume building workshops, clothes and helping with financial assistance for those looking for affordable housing.

The Lattimore Foundation also holds yearly school drives, along with coat drives multiple times during the winter and toy drives and provides a scholarship to a senior who is planning to attend either a two or four-year school.

Jones noted that the foundation has also started writing grants so they can help families more, “because there’s a lot of families in North Carolina who are in need but they just don’t have the resources and they don’t know how to get the resources and the resources that they have applied for, they have been denied several times,” she said. “So I just want to help them because they need it.”

The foundation has also partnered with Walmart by providing a community outreach program the last Sunday of every month. Therefore, they will be set up in the parking lot at the Salisbury Walmart, 323 S. Arlington St., on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. providing free essentials for families and the homeless community.

Donations will be accepted for the community outreach event, and the need for volunteers was also noted. Contact 336-327-2449 for details.

For those wanting more information about the foundation or to donate to the nonprofit, go to https://zandrealattimore32.wixsite.com/the-lattimore-founda/about-5 

“It’s important to give back,” shared Jones. “I feel like if you give back to others, you will always receive a blessing.”