[Photo: Lonnie Ballard Jr. (Submitted photo)]

The CEO of Fayetteville-based Action Pathways, which offers community support including food distributions in Hoke County, was recently recognized for his contributions to helping the low-income community.

 Action Pathways, Inc. CEO Lonnie Ballard Jr. received the N.C. Community Action Association’s Roselle Copeland Stewardship Award. The Roselle Copeland Stewardship Award is presented annually to an individual member of the N.C. Community Action Association (NCCAA), according to a press release from the agency.

“The award focuses on exemplary individual contributions to the NCCAA, to the local community or agency and/or the low-income community at large. Ballard was honored for his work to address hunger through Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) of Southeast North Carolina,” Action Pathways said in a media release.

NCCAA Executive Director Sharon C. Goodson said the organization was proud to recognize Ballard for his “exemplary contributions” and “significant impact.”

“Lonnie’s care for people extends well beyond Action Pathways. He has provided expert guidance and support throughout the community action network and has advocated tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of many North Carolina families,” she said in a statement.

Action Pathways is the parent organization of Second Harvest Food Bank, and under Ballard’s leadership, it has “exemplified the NCCAA’s mission,” a media statement said.

By partnering with more than 200 agencies, the food bank provided over 12 million pounds of food through mass distribution events and local food pantries between March and December 2020. The food bank saw an increased level of need in the area due to the pandemic, and held many more mass food distributions than usual in response.

“I’d like to thank North Carolina Community Action Association for this prestigious award,” Ballard said in a statement. “Moving forward, Action Pathways Second Harvest Food Bank is committed to long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to serve our most vulnerable citizens.”

Action Pathways operates in a seven-county area that includes Hoke County. For more information, visit actionpathways.ngo.