History of the Resale Campus

The story of the Resale Campus begins long before the Coalition opened its first shop.

In 1933, Margaret Sullivan traveled from Chicago to Southern Pines and donated funds to help establish a Catholic church for African Americans in Moore County. Her gift made possible Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, dedicated in 1935, and Our Lady of Victory School, which opened in 1942.

The church and school quickly became a community hub, welcoming people of all faiths and hosting movies, vacation programs, and neighborhood events. During integration, the Diocese merged Our Lady of Victory with St. Anthony of Padua, creating Moore County’s first integrated Catholic church and school.

After the church closed, the campus sat empty until the 1970s, when the Town of Southern Pines purchased the property. The former school became the Douglass Community Center, hosting community programs and private events as part of the town’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Over the next two decades, the church and rectory served a variety of organizations, including the Sandhills Community Action Program and local tutoring programs. In 1986, the Town leased the rectory to the newly founded Sandhills/Moore Coalition for Human Care.

As the Coalition’s services grew, volunteers began hosting Saturday yard sales to raise funds. Their success, along with strong community support, led to the opening of the first Resale Shop in spring 1990, launching the campus that continues to serve Moore County families today.