Growing up just outside Morven, Steve Deberry says he could always see how economically deprived the community was. Later in life, while he was serving time in prison, he had an epiphany.

"It was a great experience for me," he said. "I saw the products of what we have in Morven around me every day. I said, 'When I get home, I'm gonna try to break this cycle."

Now, Steve, his brother Ken and his mother, Ella Deberry Perry, are working to do just that. Together, they've started Ella's Life-Enrichment Foundation, ELF of Anson, to try to help the needy in the Morven community. ELF is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, meaning that it is eligible for federal funding and those who donate can receive tax credits. Although the mother and sons team just recently started ELF, Deberry Perry has been active in the community for years, starting Deberry Estates in Morven to help economically disadvantaged people own their own homes. The subdivision is made up of 13 homes. "If you give them responsibility, they'll learn how to use that responsibility," she said.

Deberry Estates led into the creation of ELF, which is named for Deberry Perry. "Mom always worked for people that were less fortunate," Steve Deberry said. "That rubbed off on us."

Deberry Perry said that when she married and moved to Morven, she could see the need in that community.

"There's kind of a disconnect," Steve Deberry said. "The county services don't seem to reach out that far, so we want to help that community realize itself."

Some of the work ELF is doing includes holding clothing and food drives, during which people can donate food and clothing items, and the needy can also receive the donations.

On Dec. 20, ELF held the first such drive, at the Old McRae School in Morven. "We gave out fresh meats, dried foods and fresh fruits for Christmas," Steve Deberry said.

A second drive was held Easter weekend, on April 11, and included a cookout and Easter egg hunt.

"Our initial goal is to help children and the elderly, then move on to help adults," Steve Deberry said, adding that he hopes to develop a vocational program to help adults with job training.

"We're going to try to develop some type of curriculum to teach job skills," he explained. "A lot of businesses don't come to this area because we don't have an adequate workforce."

Another future goal is to develop adequate housing for the elderly. The Deberrys also want to eventually implement financial planning education as well. "It's so simple, it's often forgotten— or never learned," Steve Deberry said.

There are also plans for a summer camp for kids and a fundraiser to help stir up monies for these planned projects.

"We're trying to increase the number of people involved in ELF," Steve Deberry said. "We want everybody to have some input."

"So they can see where their donations are going," Deberry Perry added.

The Old McRae School site will be open noon to 2 p.m. on May 6 and 7 for people in the Morven community to come by and receive donations. Deberry Perry's business, Treasure Corner on Rutherford Street in Wadesboro, also accepts donations, including clothing for both children and adults, furniture items, non-perishable food and monetary donations. Steve Deberry stressed that ELF does not need cell phones and that clothing should be in good condition. "Self-esteem is a big issue when we're trying to change people's lives," he said.

Monetary donations can also be taken to SunTrust Bank.

For more information about ELF, contact Ella Deberry Perry or Steve or Ken Deberry at 704-694-6930.