Governor, First Lady, Cabinet Secretaries Join Volunteers for Rebuild NC Day of Service Saturday | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Volunteer Event Marks Hurricane Matthew Anniversary

    LUMBERTON: Governor Roy Cooper, First Lady Kristin Cooper and cabinet secretaries will join volunteers to mark Hurricane Matthew's one-year anniversary with a day of service on Saturday, October 7 at 9:00 a.m.

    Volunteers will work at locations in Lumberton, Fayetteville, Goldsboro, Kinston and Princeville. Gov. and Mrs. Cooper will volunteer in Lumberton.

    "As I travel to parts of North Carolina hit hard by Matthew, I see the devastation, but I also see progress," Gov. Cooper said. "I'm especially heartened by the great work families, businesses, schools, churches, and volunteers are doing together to rebuild our communities."

    The governor, first lady and cabinet members will volunteer alongside people from across the state to help NC Baptists on Mission, the United Methodist Church, Kinston Area Recovery Efforts (K.A.R.E.), and Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity repair and rebuild flood-damaged homes.

• Gov. and Mrs. Cooper will volunteer in Lumberton. Kick off site: 406 Oregon Street, Lumberton.
• Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, will volunteer in Fayetteville. Kick off site: 401 Buxton Blvd, Fayetteville.
• John Nicholson, Chief Deputy Secretary of the NC Department of Environmental Quality, will volunteer in Goldsboro. Kick off site: 3357 US Highway 117 N., Goldsboro.
• Susi Hamilton, Secretary of the NC Department of Cultural Resources, will volunteer in Kinston. Kick off site: 619 East Lenoir Street, Kinston.
• Ron Penny, Secretary of the NC Department of Revenue, and Eric Boyette, Secretary of the NC Department of Information Technology, will volunteer in Princeville. Kick off site: 2909 Main Street, Tarboro.

    Volunteers will perform tasks including hanging dry wall, installing insulation, painting, and tear out and cleanup work at homes damaged by Matthew's floods last October.

    People who wish to volunteer are asked to sign up directly with the nonprofits managing the work. To sign up to volunteer, visit volunteernc.org.

    Nearly one year after Hurricane Matthew displaced thousands of families and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, North Carolina continues working to help survivors and communities rebuild, with more help needed for full recovery.

    Volunteers, nonprofits and faith-based groups are playing a critical role in helping North Carolina recover from Hurricane Matthew. After the floods, non-profit and faith-based organizations poured into communities to help residents clean up, repair and rebuild their homes. Many of the organizations have worked under the umbrella of N.C. Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NCVOAD) which routinely coordinates such relief efforts. NCVOAD estimates that more than 45,000 volunteers have dedicated nearly 430,000 service hours to help Matthew survivors thus far.

    Gov. Cooper is working closely with the state's congressional delegation to fight for additional federal funds to help the state recover fully, and will also work with legislators on any additional state funds needed.

    Learn more about North Carolina's efforts to rebuild from Hurricane Matthew from our news release and fact sheet.

• Contact: Ford Porter
•     govpress@nc.gov