Whitestocking residents welcome truckload of donations from Pennsylvania

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — It has been more than four months since Hurricane Florence hit, and many communities are still struggling.

On Thursday, a large truckload of supplies rolled in to help one community. You could feel the love at Sandhill AME Church Thursday morning.

The community jumped up to unload an 18-wheeler full of supplies that made the trip all the way from Pennsylvania.

“As weird as it sounds, losing everything you have is a blessing? It has been. It makes you appreciate it a million times more. It does,” said Maraskeshi Brown, who lost everything in Florence.

“For someone in a whole other state to be thinking about us, to come to do this, it means a lot. and to me, it gives my family hope,” said Valerie Brown, who’s family lost their home in Florence.

Nothing but smiles from those who live on Whitestocking Rd. as they gathered to unload a tractor trailer filled with supplies.

For these residents, the road to recovery from Hurricane Florence seems to have no end, but the support from strangers means so much.

“We’re glad to be down here to help these folks. They have been more than appreciative. They have such big hearts. You can tell there’s a real spirit here in the town,” said Nathan Eifert, who brought the donations down from Pennsylvania.

Eifert and his team at Orrstown Bank packed the 53 ft. truck full of donations. The drop-off was made possible with the help of the North Carolina Banker’s Association.

“These people are so hearty, and happy, and joyful in the midst of total destruction all around them. I can see the water lines all the way up to their chimneys,” said Peter Gwaltney, of the North Carolina Banker’s Association.

Gwaltney says the enthusiasm and gratitude is amazing. Even though Maraskeshi Brown lost everything, she says if you’re not smiling the whole time, you’re not grateful.

“The last four months have been hard, but God has shown me so many miracles just using all his little angels. It’s just amazing. It’s been emotionally hard, but god has just sent so many people to help,” said Brown.

Brown and others in the community could not express how much this means to them. They say it is easy to forget that people are still struggling, but it is days like this that give them hope.