Pender County restaurant helps community members in need

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — One restaurant owner in Pender County is not only feeding customers but making a difference in the lives of many.

“Here at MeMa’s that’s our motto to help someone else,” restaurant owner Myra McDuffie said.

MeMa’s Chick’n’ & Ribs is not only a restaurant.

“We all live in this world to help each other, everybody needs help. It’s them today and it could be us tomorrow,” McDuffie said.

The restaurant has only been open for eight months, but has already changed the lives of many.

Helping others is something McDuffie said she will never stop doing.

“It makes us feel great. It makes me feel wonderful knowing that we can impact so many different lives by a meal, by giving them a hug, by giving them encouraging words so that they can get through their day,” McDuffie said.

The restaurant serves meals to the homeless and a social services organization. But it’s one connection that stands out for McDuffie.

“We watched in our car as they transformed this little place into this restaurant,” Pam Avamson said.

Pam Avamson and her husband were once customers of MeMa’s, but after life’s hardships they found themselves living in their car.

MeMa’s has since welcomed them in as family.

“There are kind people that are in places to help you when you need them the most and MeMa’s is that kind of place with those kind of people,” Avamson said.

Many customers say McDuffie is a shinning light in their lives and she is always willing to help anyone in need.

“We want people to feel more warm and welcomed by coming into MeMa’s, and if we can provide a smile and a meal to help them then that’s what we’re going to do,”McDuffie said.