About Us
For more than six decades, Pine Acres Community Center has been a place where neighbors come together to serve, support, and strengthen one another. Established in 1962, Pine Acres was founded by community leaders who recognized the need for a gathering place where families could fellowship, organize, and build a stronger future for the Lincoln Heights neighborhood and the greater Fuquay-Varina community during a pivotal time in our nation's history.
The vision became a true community effort. Local residents purchased the property on McLean Street, and volunteers worked together to construct the building. Students from the former Fuquay Consolidated School even helped lay the masonry bricks, creating a lasting symbol of pride, perseverance, and community ownership. Founding leaders, including James Rogers, Leroy Burton, Kever Jackson Sr., Alec Bullock, Mr. Harris, and Forrest Newkirk Sr., believed that investing in people would leave a legacy that would endure for generations.
Throughout its history, Pine Acres has continually adapted to meet the changing needs of the community. What began as a neighborhood gathering place has grown into one of southern Wake County's most trusted community resources. Over the years, the center has served as:
A community meeting and fellowship space
A polling location for local, state, and national elections
A regional Meals on Wheels partner serving seniors
A site for youth programs, tutoring, and educational enrichment
A location for voter education and civic engagement
A venue for celebrations, reunions, and community events
A hub for nonprofit partnerships and volunteer service
When the COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges, Pine Acres once again answered the call. The center became a distribution site for school meals, personal protective equipment, and emergency resources while organizing large-scale food deliveries and drive-through distributions that served thousands of families across Fuquay-Varina and surrounding communities. That commitment to serving others continues today through monthly food distributions, senior services, community partnerships, and programs designed to improve quality of life for residents of all ages.
Today, Pine Acres Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization led entirely by a volunteer Board of Directors. Every program, event, and service is made possible through volunteers, donors, churches, civic organizations, local businesses, and community partners who share a common belief that when we invest in people, we strengthen our entire community.
As we look toward the future, Pine Acres remains committed to preserving its rich history while expanding opportunities for the next generation. Through capital improvements, youth development, senior programming, food security initiatives, community gardens, educational resources, and collaborative partnerships, we continue to build upon the foundation laid by those who came before us.
Our mission remains the same today as it was in 1962: to be a place of hope, opportunity, service, and community where every person is welcomed, valued, and empowered to thrive.