Kenly woman donates stimulus check to Fort Bragg YMCA food pantry

A Kenly woman who felt as though she did not need her recent stimulus check made the decision to donate the money to the Fort Bragg YMCA food pantry.

Inspired by WRAL Fayetteville reporter Gilbert Baez's story on food banks for military families from December, Judy Peterson said she felt compelled to help.

"I was watching it, and they had a young woman on who was going to the food bank at Fort Bragg," Peterson said. "Two of my boys and two of my grandsons have gone through; one is actually in the military now. I know they don’t make a lot of money."

When the opportunity came with this stimulus check, she knew right where she wanted it to go.

"I’m on a fixed income, I’m on a small pension, and I thought if I don’t need it, I've got to donate it, and that would be the place I’d want it to go," she said.

Peterson said she feels gratified about her decision and hopes others who can afford to will donate to causes they support as well.

"It feels good," she said. "I hope other people will do the same thing. Other people that may not need it."

As far as those benefiting from Peterson's generosity, Associate Executive Director of the Armed Services YMCA Fort Bragg Michelle Baumgarten says this is a unique form of donation.

"I think this is actually our first stimulus check notification, which is a really great idea," Baumgarten said. "I love it and I’m so appreciative."

As this is the second round of stimulus checks sent out by the federal government during the pandemic, the infrastructure is already in place for those who wish to donate their checks to good causes.