Community leaders in Pittsboro are rallying together to help out a family after they suffered a major loss in early March.

Melody Bailey is the Head Custodian at North Chatham Elementary School and, on Tuesday March 3, her house burned down.

Rex Whilloughby owns and operates a McDonalds in the area and has two children at North Chatham. He says this really hit home when he heard the news.

“Melody, she’s one of those polite people that, every time you pass her in the hallways when you’re dropping kids off in the morning,” he says, “she’s always one to smile and speak, say ‘Hello.’”

Whilloughby says he and his wife knew they had to act when they were reading the notice about the incident from the school.

So, tonight if you are traveling through Pittsboro you can stop in the McDonald’s at 36 Lowes Drive, contribute to the cause, and help a family in need.

“From 4-8 PM, we’re going to donate 50 percent of all sales to Ms. Bailey,” Whilloughby says.

He adds if you want to donate more than that, they will also have donation boxes to collect funds for Bailey and her family.

And if you are not in the area, but would like to help, you can donate here.

Related Stories
‹
MOSAIC at Chatham Park Announces 6 New Businesses Coming to Pittsboro
Pittsboro’s MOSAIC revealed six new businesses which are slated to move in to Chatham Park over the next two years. 
Chatham County Roundup: Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp on Tri River Water, More
Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, June 23, discussing town news and events. They discussed the recent meeting of the board with county commissioners and boards from other towns in the county. He also gave an update on Tri River Water, talked about downtown planning, and more.
Chatham County Roundup: Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp on Budget and More
Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, June 9, discussing town news and events. He discussed passage of the town's budget, and what was deferred to keep the budget low enough to avoid a tax increase. He also offered updates on the capital improvement plan, some parkland around town, and some future parkland in Chatham Park, and more.
Local Government Meetings: June 8-12, 2026
This week in local government: final budget votes in Hillsborough, Pittsboro, Chapel Hill, and Durham County.
Chatham County Sheriff: Pittsboro Man Facing Multiple Counts of Felony Identity Theft, Fraud
The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office has obtained warrants charging a Pittsboro man with multiple counts of identity theft and fraud. Aaron Luis Perez, 34, of 534 Deer Run is charged with 21 counts of felony financial card fraud, 20 counts of felony identity theft and two counts of misdemeanor possession of stolen goods. The sheriff’s […]
'Not in Our Benefit': Chatham Residents Speak Out Against Proposed Fearrington Preserve Community
Chatham County Board of Commissioners recently met to continue last month’s public hearing for Fearrington Preserve.
Pittsboro Commissioners Vote to End Flock Safety Contract Early, Citing Community Opposition
Pittsboro elected officials voted on Monday to end its contract with Flock Safety, following longstanding backlash from residents about privacy concerns related to the license-plate cameras.
Golf Cart Storage Building Goes Up in Blaze at Pittsboro Golf Course; No Injuries Reported
Both the Pittsboro Fire-Rescue team and the Siler City Fire Department shared posts on Facebook detailing a blaze at 1000 Chapel Ridge Drive in Pittsboro.
Chatham County Schools Names 2026 Educators of the Year
Chatham County Schools recognized its 2026 Educators of the Year Thursday during its annual Educator Recognition Reception. Each honoree was nominated by colleagues and selected after a districtwide review. Walter Johnson of Chatham Early College in Siler City was named the district’s Teacher of the Year. Several Pittsboro educators were honored: at Pittsboro Elementary, Emily […]
Chatham County Roundup: Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp on Park Improvements and More
Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, April 28, discussing town news and events. He discussed several parks and rec updates, including some upgrades coming to Knight Farm Park. He talked about a ribbon cutting for Chatham Park Way, and more.
›