GOLDSBORO, NC — A long-standing Goldsboro business is continuing its tradition of community service, this time helping create a safer and more secure space for individuals working to overcome homelessness.
Seegars Fence Company selected The Portal as the focus of its 2026 Helping Hands Community Project, bringing employees together to install a new fence around the property in just half a day.
Seegars Fence Company, a locally owned business serving the Goldsboro community since 1949, temporarily shut down operations during its busy season so employees could volunteer their time for the project.
“This is our third project — actually our fourth project,” said John Seegars, Chief Marketing Officer at Seegars Fence Company. “Our first project was at the W.A. Foster Center, then we worked with the Boys & Girls Club, and when we didn’t have a local project during Hurricane Helene, we helped with relief efforts by stuffing supply buckets and sending them out. We’re always trying to find a good project in the community that we can be a part of.”
This year, the company selected The Portal, a community initiative led by the 4 Day Movement that focuses on helping homeless and displaced individuals transition toward sustainable housing and stability.
The Portal — which stands for Place of Restoration, Transformation, Accountability, and Love — provides short-term shelter, hope, and resources for community members seeking to overcome homelessness or displacement. The mission of The Portal is to provide short-term shelter, hope, and resources to individuals seeking to overcome homelessness or displacement, ultimately guiding them toward transformed lives and sustainable housing.
“The Portal really has a strong mission,” Seegars said. “They’re trying to help people in the community who may not be making the best decisions get back on their feet. They provide food, shelter, and education along the way so it’s not just a short-term win — it’s long-term success. That’s why we’re really standing behind The Portal. We want to see this place succeed and do well.”
The newly installed fence includes steel fencing at the front and chain-link fencing along the sides and back, fully enclosing the property and improving safety and security.
“They mentioned they’ve had some issues with transient foot traffic, which can create disruptions,” Seegars explained. “This will hopefully provide protection and stability for the individuals staying here.”
The Helping Hands project also serves as a team-building opportunity for Seegars employees, allowing staff who typically work behind the scenes to experience hands-on installation work.
“We shut down our entire plant — and this is our busy season,” Seegars said. “But we brought everybody out here. It’s teamwork, and it helps our employees understand what crews in the field experience. It builds camaraderie and gives everyone a chance to work together in a different environment.”
Employees completed the fencing project in approximately half a day, taking advantage of favorable weather conditions.
Through projects like Helping Hands, Seegars Fence Company continues its decades-long commitment to strengthening the Goldsboro community — one project at a time.
