OUR HISTORY

Yokefellow was founded in April 1967 by Rev. Jerry Murray and church member Jewel Hill of First United Methodist Church of Forest City, NC. Yokefellow Service Center, Inc. was incorporated in December 1968. Over the years, Yokefellow launched programs providing various kinds of assistance to the disadvantaged residents of Rutherford County. In order to focus on Yokefellow’s primary goal of crisis assistance, these programs have been entrusted to other agencies throughout the years. From this small act of kindness and beginnings in a church basement, Yokefellow has grown in scope and size. Services are now provided in a 20,000-square-foot facility with Client Services offices, an outstanding thrift store open to the public, and
a warehouse area for accepting donation items that are then prepared for sale in the thrift store. After 50+ years of providing crisis assistance, current programs have expanded from clothing and food to include rent, utilities, heating/cooling, prescription medication, and wellness
equipment.

Yokefellow thrives because of area churches, organizations, and individuals who care about their community and helping others in less fortunate circumstances. We are the Duke Energy “Share the Lite” partner for Rutherford County and are applying for foundation grant assistance in
hopes of receiving additional funding. Yokefellow is not a government-funded agency.