Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN)—As the number of unhoused people continues to grow in North Carolina and across the country, Teresa Wingo has become a familiar face on the streets of Gastonia, Cherryville, Lincolnton, and even Rock Hill and Gaffney. Not because she has to be there, but because she chooses to be. With a trunk full of food, clothing, and other necessary items, Wingo spends her days reaching out to those in need, driven by a sense of purpose and compassion.
Her dedication comes from her own background. Growing up in Kings Mountain as the youngest of five siblings, she saw her parents, Carl and Esther Wingo, devote their lives to helping others. "They were self-missionaries who went out and gave to the poor. They brought people home from jail and kept them for the weekends, "she said.
Wingo stops daily at places such as the QT on West Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia. She hands out food, socks, blankets, and $5 gift cards to help the unhoused get food, water, a drink, or snacks to help them get by. She walks around and speaks with everyone, sharing items so no one gets left out.
The people she helps respond with gratitude and relief. One woman said, "This is such a blessing. There aren't a lot of kind people out here. I'm glad you came down this side of town. People like us, it’s hard to be out here without them.” These reactions show how much Wingo's efforts mean to them.
Wingo explained the purpose behind her efforts: “What I do every day, coming out, just blessing people, just giving people the small things just to get through the day. Helps them out a little bit.” Her presence is about more than just the items—she’s meeting people where they are and offering them a sense of care and attention in the middle of their struggles.
The unhoused that she helps mentioned to our WNN team that what they need most right now are blankets, shoes, socks, hats, hand warmers, and canned food. If you would like to donate anything to Wingo, both Rockin Realty Inc. locations in Cherryville and Gastonia, NC, are drop-off locations. Teresa Macfarlane, a long-time friend of Wingo, owns both locations.
Cherryville Address: 124 W Main St, Cherryville, NC 28021
Gastonia Address: 1002 E. Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054
Wingo's commitment to helping those in need recently earned her national attention, thanks to the Hyundai Hometown Heroes program. The program recognizes and rewards community members who go above and beyond to serve their community. Every year, the new hero gets a brand new Hyundai. It shines a light on everyday heroes such as teachers, volunteers, and community activists, giving them a car to help them continue their work.
Several people nominated Wingo to be the latest Hyundai Hometown Hero. The honor came with a brand-new 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe. Wingo said she was completely surprised by the recognition.
Teresa Wingo's new 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe. September 22nd,2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
"I didn't have any idea at all. My friend Margot Plonk gave me a call, and she just invited me to come out for coffee… When we got ready to leave, a lady just walked up to me and started talking to me about Hometown Heroes. "
Along with the vehicle, Wingo was given a $500 gift card from Harris Teeter. The gift card is meant to help her buy some of the items she gives to unhoused people.
Wingo credits long-time friend Teresa McFarlane and others for helping her take care of the vehicle. "Teresa McFarlane and a group of people took care of waiving the taxes and paying for insurance. They've done a lot of things that took place in it for me that I could not do for myself."
Wingo's mission to help others started in her childhood. She recalled witnessing her mother give her shoes away to a stranger:
"I watched my mom give her shoes away to a person. And I asked her, Why would she do that? And she said, because they need them. And I said, Well, you don't even know who it is. She said, Well, you go ask them their name because this is what you're going to do too."
She also grew up watching her grandmother, Georgie Carter, making cakes. She would cut them and give them to strangers without pay. Wingo says she was embedded in helping others. Her family has been helping the poor for five generations.
Wingo is known as the "Trunk Lady" around town. The nickname came about when she was in Gastonia, driving down the road in her old Honda vehicle. She recalled a homeless man seeing her and yelling out in a field, "Here comes the trunk lady, she's got something in that trunk."
The man was right, as Wingo is known for opening the trunk of her car and handing out different items to those in need. These items include Apples, oranges, bananas, and water.
Every day, Wingo actively looks for those who are struggling. "I just look for people. I always ride to look for anybody that I can see and feel that they’re struggling. We can see and feel it when people are struggling. You just know it. It’s just a gift from God,” she said.
Her interventions have transformed lives, including that of a man named Tim who had been living in a tent and was estranged from his children.
Through her persistence, Wingo helped reconnect him with his family. “He probably was 80 pounds at the time. He was just on his way out. To this day, he has always called me his angel, and I call him my angel. He went through a whole lot… and now he’s still with us. He’s free from being in a tent.”
In North Carolina and across the country, the number of unhoused people continues to rise. Wingo witnesses these changes every week and says it's clear to see. Lately, she's noticed more young faces. Many of them are living in cars, tents, or abandoned buildings.
Wingo believes that trauma is one of the leading causes of the issue. She talked about how a person's experiences at home, whether from the past or the present, can influence someone's future. Unlike her own stable upbringing in a household where her parents have been married for 65 years, many kids grow up in broken families, dealing with conflict, abuse, or instability. Others come into a world where struggle is simply a part of life that gets passed down.
She also pointed out that modern life contributes to the problem. According to her, technology makes it easier to fall into negative habits and harder to break free from them. While many people think homelessness is only about substance abuse, Wingo said the reality is more complicated. It can start with grief, losing someone close, or a tough life change that leaves a person without support.
Wingo feels that the battles people fight are often hidden behind their looks. Social media can create a facade of happiness and success, masking deep personal struggles. Those who seem okay on the outside might be struggling quietly inside.
For Wingo, the most important thing is that people are truly seen. She stressed how important eye contact and being present can be in breaking through shame and isolation. Unfortunately, those who struggle the most feel unseen. For Wingo, approaching people with kindness and patience, and what she calls "godly counsel," is the first step in helping make sure no one feels invisible.
Teresa MacFarlane showing compassion to an unhoused man at the QT on W Franklin Blvd in Gastonia, NC. September 22nd,2025
WNN
Wingo believes that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a life-changing difference. She explained that a simple gesture, such as giving someone $10 or leaving supplies in a public place, can do more than we realize.
"That $10 bill might save a life. It might help a baby who's got a rash on his bottom. It might stop that mom from committing suicide or jumping off a bridge because she's desperate. Because when people get desperate, they do desperate things. It doesn't mean they're bad. When people don't see a way out, everything becomes dark. We have to be the light of the world."
Wingo's ultimate goal is to inspire others to continue to do the work. She encourages friends, family, and even strangers to always keep a bag of supplies with them and be ready to give it away.
"If you don't want to see a person, put it on a bench and just put a note on it and say, if you find this, it's for you. Take it in a store. If you put it in a bathroom and hang it up, put $10 in it and say, Hey, God bless you. We can all write a story with basic needs. That's what I would love to see: spread nationwide. Just buy a bag."
Wingo believes spreading compassion through small gestures is how a community can begin to respond to the challenges of homelessness and hardship.
At the end of the day, what really matters to Wingo is being there for people who feel invisible or unheard. She believes everyone has hidden struggles and that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone's life.
"We can do anything for anybody if we take time. Because what you see is not what you really see. Spend more time with people than you spend time with your feelings and your own emotions. People are just waiting on you to lay it on the table before they can, too."
In a world that often feels divided, Wingo's message is straightforward yet impactful: pay attention to the challenges people face, be compassionate, and always remember how much a small act can mean.
Her work shows that real change is not just about doing something big. It comes from our everyday choices to spread love and kindness to others, one person at a time.
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