LUMBERTON, NC (WBTW) – As Robeson County continues the response and recovery from Hurricane Matthew, details about the community effort can be found here. As of Friday (10/21/16) afternoon:WAYS TO HELPDonations of clothing, food & supplies
The donation and distribution site at the Southeastern Ag Center (farmers market) has closed.
Donations of clothing should now be taken to a warehouse at 1401 Starlite Drive in Lumberton. Hours are Monday -Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.
The Robeson County Church and Community Center is working to sort clothing for a later distribution. See the volunteering section below if you’d like to help.
All other donations such as food and supplies should be taken to a warehouse at 2300 N. Cedar Street in Lumberton. Hours are Monday -Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.
UNCP is accepting donations of nonperishable food items, toiletries, water and clothing at the CARE Resource Center located on campus in Wellons Hall, suite C. More details are available on the University’s Hurricane Matthew Relief & Recovery webpage.School supply drive
The Carolina Civic Center, located in downtown Lumberton, is collecting school supply and general donations to be distributed 1-5 p.m. Saturday October 29 at the theater to students affected by Hurricane Matthew.
The event also will include free hot dogs and sodas, as well as entertainment.
Drop Off Location & Time: Carolina Civic Center (315 N. Chestnut Street, Lumberton)
Monday, October 24th 3-8 p.m. & Friday, October 28th 3-9 p.m. (or drop-off arrangements can be made by calling 910-738-4339)
General school supplies are requested, and all donated items should be new, including clothing. Monetary donations can be made as well, and will be used to purchase supplies for schools. Suggested school supply donations include:
- Notebook paper
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Binders
- Folders
- Crayons
- Coloring pencils
- Deodorant
- Lotions
- Kleenex boxes
- Hand sanitizers
- Chips (snack size bags)
Donations of money
UNCP has established a Hurricane Matthew Relief Fund for students and employees.
The Lumbee Tribe has set up a PayPal fund for donations to go directly to the tribe.
The city of Lumberton has set up a GoFundMe account for donations to go immediately and directly to the city. On the fund page, a message from Mayor Bruce Davis reads as follows:
“Please know that all of your generous donations will be used for the recovery of our community, and specifically to assist the citizens that have been affected by the flooding of Hurricane Matthew. All funds will be fairly and equitably put to use through a screening process monitored by City Council and myself.
We need as much help as we can get and may God bless you for your efforts and support. Please pray for our City.”
Robeson County Emergency Management posted on Facebook, “If you would like to make an online donation to the Robeson County Hurricane Matthew Relief Fund. Please click on the link below.”
Volunteers are regularly needed at Hyde Park Baptist Church (301 N Roberts Ave, Lumberton) as meal service continues there each day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.
The Robeson County Church and Community Center is the main distributor of clothing for those who suffered damage from Hurricane Matthew. The center has a great need for volunteers to sort and distribute those donations in the coming weeks.
The center has moved its office to the clothing donation warehouse at 1401 Starlite Drive in Lumberton.
Anyone who donates at a donation site is encouraged to stay and help unload and sort donations if needed at that site.GETTING HELPThe county’s fire stations are no longer serving as water & MRE distribution sites.Shelters
Bill Sapp Recreation Center; 1100 N. Cedar St., Lumberton
Robeson County Fair Grounds; 3750 Martin Luther King Dr., LumbertonFEMA assistance
As of Thursday (10/13/16), Robeson County North Carolina residents were able to apply for help directly through FEMA. According to the FEMA website, individual aid can provide grants for temporary housing, rental assistance and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed personal property, and medical and dental expenses.
Click here for information on how to apply for FEMA assistance in North Carolina.NC DSS Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps)
On Monday, the U.S Department of Agriculture extended the deadline for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) recipients in North Carolina to request replacement benefits. The deadline is now Oct. 28. People already receiving FNS benefits can apply if they experienced food losses that can be attributed to Hurricane Matthew.
The household must contact the county Department of Social Services to report the loss and qualify for replacement benefits. Anyone who cannot contact a county social services office may call the Electronic Benefits Call Center at 1-866-719-0141.
For more information, call 2-1-1 or go to the United Way’s N.C. 211 site at http://www.unitedwaync.org/nc211. The 211 the service is free, confidential and available in any language.
DSS in Robeson County has staff who will be at each Disaster Shelter to assist with the replacement of benefits. The county’s DSS also has sites throughout the county for all others who are currently receiving FNS (food stamps) to go to report their loss to receive their replacements.
The last day the sites will be open is Friday, Oct. 20. The sites will be the following locations (hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.):
- Proctorville Community Building – 105 S Pine Street
- St Pauls Community Building – 111 N 3rd St (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
- Maxton Resource Center – 103 N Florence Street
- Parkton Town Hall – 28 W David Parnett St.
- Lumber Bridge Community Center – 100 Railroad St
- Pembroke Tribal Center – 6984 NC Hwy 711 W
- Rowland New Hope Church – 210 MLK St. South
- Fairmont Heritage Center – Main St.
- Red Springs Court House – Main Street
- Lumberton First Baptist Church – 606 N Walnut St
Additional food assistance for citizens not participating in the Food and Nutrition Services program is in process as state agencies work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide data that will be used to identify qualifying counties in the state.
In the meantime, citizens may visit their county Department of Social Services to apply for regular Food and Nutrition Services. Contact information for local county offices is available at: www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/dss/local-county-social-services-offices.LUMBERTON CITY WATER SYSTEM
Lumberton’s water system is currently working with three temporary filtration systems. There is no longer a request to limit usage, but a boil water advisory is still in place.LUMBERTON GARBAGE COLLECTION
The week of October 30, the city of Lumberton will only collect household garbage.CURFEW
Curfews in Robeson County and Lumberton have been lifted.ROBESON COUNTY WATER SYSTEM
The water boiling advisory has been removed.
Many of these updates came from Robeson County Emergency Management on Facebook and the Hurricane Matthew Relief Updates – City of Lumberton facebook page, which is operated by volunteers.
