Nine days ago, about 150 residents of Kinston Towers were evacuated from their homes after an electric fire. As a result, they were placed into hotels and other vacant housing units.
On Thursday, the Red Cross and a few churches tried to provide a bit of routine in what has been a bizarre time for most of the residents, who are going to be out of their homes for the next three to four weeks.
The Red Cross, along with members of The Bridge Church in Goldsboro and Burning Bush Church Ministries, cooked out in front of the River Inn Hotel, making plates for every displaced member of Kinston Towers. Sharon United Methodist Church donated items for dozens of plates to be made, filled with hot dogs, chips and a drink.
“This was an event to help provide normalcy for clients of Kinston Towers,” Tammy Forrester — Red Cross Chapter CEO for Lenoir, Greene and Wayne County — said. “We delivered plates door-to-door at River Inn and load trucks to serve the hotels other people are staying at. We wanted everyone to get their Independence Day hot dog celebration plate.”
Red Cross volunteer Ella Hall — who has been working with the organization for four years — enjoyed being part of the celebration.
“This is one of the most exciting things I’ve done,” Hall said. “When I retired, I wanted to help the Red Cross and I’ve been blessed to.”
Burning Bush Church Ministries Pastor Gloria Saunders — who delivered a sermon last Sunday to members of Kinston Towers at Hampton Inn — encouraged her congregation to volunteer.
“I wanted them to be a part of this and see what they can do,” Sanders said. “There’s always something to do in the community and it’s always good to see people volunteering, especially the youth.”
Forrester — who goes to The Bridge Church — sought help from Outreach Pastor James Bryant, who came with several volunteers, grilling and serving plates door-to-door at River Inn.
“We’re all about helping out the community, whether it’s in Kinston, Goldsboro, Princeton or anywhere else in the area,” Bryant said. “We’re ready and we have a great crew willing to serve.”
“This is what we’re all about,” Jean Bryant — James’ wife — said. “We want the community to know the church cares.”
Displaced Kinston Towers resident Roy Davenport has been thankful of the support of the Red Cross and liked the efforts given in this current time of peril.
“They’re doing something real good here,” Davenport said.
Linda Miller, another displaced Kinston Towers resident, stayed with her sister for a few days after the blaze before moving into River Inn. Although Miller is appreciative of the assistance she has received, the thought of getting back into Kinston Towers is on her mind.
“We’ve been helped so much from the Red Cross and Kinston Housing Authority,” Linda Miller said. “Everyone has been so nice, but it doesn’t hide the fact that I want to go home. We couldn’t have gotten it any better considering the circumstances, but there’s no place like home.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.