A Night for the Community: Picnic for Peacemakers Returns Thursday
A night of community, connection and support is coming to Rocky Mount this Thursday as Picnic for Peacemakers returns for another year.
On Thursday, October 1, Peacemakers will welcome supporters to Rise Church for what the organization calls its biggest fundraiser of the year. The annual picnic is an opportunity to gather together while supporting the work Peacemakers carries out with children and families in South Rocky Mount and surrounding communities.
For those already familiar with Peacemakers, the picnic is a chance to continue supporting an organization that has become part of the Rocky Mount community. For others, it offers an opportunity to learn more about its mission and the programs happening throughout the year.
Peacemakers describes itself as a Christ-centered community development organization focused on providing educational opportunities that help individuals and families pursue self-sustainability and long-term flourishing.
That work reaches children at several stages of their education. Peacemakers currently provides a free after-school program for 60 elementary students, offered four days a week during the school year with homework assistance, individualized tutoring and other support.
Its work continues outside the traditional school year through programs such as K-Ready Allstars, a six-week summer program designed to help prepare young children for kindergarten, and Level Up, a summer enrichment program for students.
Peacemakers also hosts free monthly Book Parties, where neighborhood children can enjoy lunch, participate in literacy activities and select books to take home and keep. The organization also operates Southside Academy and its annual Christmas Toy Store, which gives participating parents an opportunity to purchase donated toys at substantially reduced prices for their children.
Those programs provide the bigger picture behind Thursday night's event.
Picnic for Peacemakers isn't simply a night out — it's the organization's biggest fundraising event of the year and an opportunity for the community to support the work taking place throughout the rest of it.
Whether you've supported Peacemakers for years or you're just learning about the organization, Thursday is a chance to gather with others, learn more about its work and be part of an evening centered around the Rocky Mount community.
Picnic for Peacemakers📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026📍 Rise Church❤️ Benefiting Peacemakers of Rocky Mount
