NC Freedom Fest Joins Community Partners to Support Deployed Airmen’s Families
NC Freedom Fest joined Hope Extended, Kriquette’s Kidz and the USO to host a Hearts Apart Dinner for families at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base who currently have a loved one deployed.
The dinner provided families with an opportunity to share a meal and spend time together while their service members are away serving the country. Out of respect for the families’ privacy and security, photos of those attending were not taken or shared.
NC Freedom Fest contributed both funding and volunteers to help make the event possible, working alongside its community partners to provide the meal and create a welcoming evening for the families.
The community also stepped up in a big way. Food Lion in Pikeville donated hamburgers, buns and chips, while local supporters provided additional food and supplies, including bottled water, Capri Suns, desserts and watermelons. The participating organizations covered the remaining needs.
The evening was a reminder that military service affects more than the person wearing the uniform. Families at home continue managing daily responsibilities, supporting their loved ones from afar and waiting for their return.
For NC Freedom Fest, supporting military families is part of its larger mission of honoring those who serve and the communities that stand behind them.
NC Freedom Fest will continue that mission during its annual festival on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 12 pm to 9 pm in Downtown Goldsboro. The free, family-friendly celebration will feature live music, activities and tributes to those who serve, with T. Davis opening for headliner Ashley McBryde.
