Churches feed hundreds of families affected by Hurricane Matthew

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — It has been nearly a month since Hurricane Matthew and people across the state are still recovering.

Including hundreds of families in Whiteville, where a big concern for many is where their next meal is coming from. That is why St. Paul AME Zion Church of Bolton is helping one of their own, St. Mark provide hurricane victims with a little bit of relief.

The two churches, along with others in the area, put together what they call a “Matthew Relief Assistance Food Giveaway” Tuesday afternoon.

Pastor Thomas Williams of Bolton spearheaded the giveaway with help from Pastor Charlrean Mapson.

“The Hurricane is over, people are getting back to to work,” Mapson said. “People are getting their lives back together. But there are still people who are displaced, and so there is still a need.”

Pastor Williams helped 250 families with food in their Bolton giveaway and thought he should help out in Whiteville as well.

“When I saw the devastation all up I-40, and all up 74 to 76, there was a church that people said that no one was bringing aid to them in Fair Bluff and it touched my heart,” Williams said. “And we just wanted to make sure we were doing something positive in this area.”

They had everything from baby supplies to water, fresh produce, canned food and even clothes. Dozens of volunteers helped set up and hand out items, one volunteer even came all the way down from New York.

92-year-old Harry Koloski says he has never seen anything like this.

“We had a flood in 2007 up there but it didn’t do the damage it did here,” Koloski said. “And it’s, I just feel feel sad about it and am glad to be able to help a little bit out here.”

Today’s food giveaway was made possible by the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, it donated 25,000 pounds of food to help hurricane victims.