A local company has made a substantial donation to the tornado recovery effort in Beaufort County, to the tune of $100,000.
Last Friday, representatives from PotashCorp-Aurora met with those from the American Red Cross to present the donation. The funds are meant for cleanup and long-term recovery from damage to approximately 200 homes and businesses by an EF3 tornado that tore a path through Beaufort County the night of April 25.
For Summer Woodard, with the Red Cross, Eastern NC region, the check from PotashCorp came as no surprise; however, the amount was.
“PotashCorp always steps up and donates to the Red Cross, so I knew they would be giving us something,” Woodard said. “But $100,000 — that was definitely a surprise.”
“The damage from the tornadoes was so severe and widespread, we knew we had to help,” said Ray McKeithan, PotashCorp-Aurora’s manager of public affairs. “When friends, neighbors and family members are impacted, quick action is necessary. We’ve witnessed firsthand the amazing work done by the American Red Cross and know the funds are being directed to those in need, right here at home.”
Woodard said, indeed, the funds will stay local and used for the eastern North Carolina counties that were hit by the storm, and the tornadoes it spawned in Beaufort, Chowan, Perquimans and Pasquotank counties.
“(The donation) is for all the counties in eastern North Carolina, which the bulk of our response has been in Beaufort County,” Woodard said.
According to Red Cross figures, as of May 5, the organizations had served 4,819 meals and snacks, opened 86 cases providing individualized support to 217 residents, mobilized 147 disaster workers and distributed 2,229 supplies, including blankets, comfort kits with hygiene items, clean up kits and items including hand sanitizer, storage containers, sunscreen, bug spray, heavy-duty trash bags, tarps, rope, duct tape, first aid kits and rakes.
The outreach is ongoing, Woodard said, and won’t stop for many months to come.
This week, a Red Cross team met and began planning long-term projects to help those affected make a full recovery. They will partner with hands-on organizations like Baptist Men Disaster Relief, then provide funding and volunteers to assist with rebuilding.
“We’re thinking six months down the road and what these families need then,” Woodard said. “We can’t do what we do without donors like PotashCorp, and others in the community, who have supported our cause.”
People can help those affected by disasters like the North Carolina tornadoes and countless other crises by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs like providing disaster relief. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.