CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After more than three decades of service, a Charlotte woman is bringing home the state of North Carolina's highest civilian honor.
Deronda Metz was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Roy Cooper for her service and commitment to the community through the Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte.
Metz retired from the Salvation Army as Director of Social Services after 33 years. She spent 25 of those years as leader of the Salvation Army's Center of Hope Emergency Shelter for women and children in need.
"If we don’t help them, then there may not be another opportunity and I especially felt that way with our children," Metz said.
Metz's passion comes from personal experience, after leaving an abusive relationship in her early 20s. The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte gave her a new job and a fresh start.
"I attribute it all, a lot of it, to sort of being in a place one time where, if somebody had not and if my family had not supported me," Metz said.
In her over 30-year career, Metz and her team expanded emergency housing and turned their overnight shelter into a 24/7 program with wraparound day programs, including employment assistance, substance abuse, and physical and mental health services. They partnered with Inlivian to create dedicated access to 60 affordable apartment homes for families moving from the shelter and helped crack down on human trafficking in Mecklenburg, Union, and Anson counties.
RELATED: 'We didn't want to be home' | Charlotte seniors form organization to stay active, support others
Maj. Jason Burns, Area Commander with the Salvation Army, said the organization applied for the award on Metz's behalf and gathered recommendations in support of her.
"She is monumental in the lives of every single person that she touched," Burns said. "Whether they met her or not, the work that she did has touched millions of lives and we’re so grateful for that.”
Despite her work, Metz said receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine came as a big surprise.
"Because, it almost feels like this [work] is something that anybody would do, right?" Metz said. "So, how did it feel? You know, what an honor."
Her work doesn't stop here. She's joined the Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte's advisory board to continue her work advocating for those in need.
“As long as it doesn’t exhaust me. I did learn self-care since retirement," she said. "I think I’ll probably be in this space for a while.”
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.