Wilmington, North Carolina, Oct. 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The underserved in Wilmington are now the focus of service as the community begins recovery efforts after Hurricane Florence. Support the Port, a three year old non-profit, has established a beachhead in Ebenezer Baptist Church on the northeast side of downtown Wilmington. The organization has centralized donations and volunteers, supplies and services such as healthcare, employment, home repair, legal advice and child care. The first week of October, Support the Port will be open from Noon to 6:00 PM with local Chef Keith Rhodes, a competitor on season 9 of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef,” bringing his sought-after Catch food truck for lunch on Monday (10/1), Tuesday (10/2) and Friday (10/5). The rest of October, hours are 1:00 to 6:00 PM, Tuesday through Thursday. Ebenezer Baptist Church is located at Princess Place Drive and 30th Street in Wilmington.
“We’ve found a home in the heart of a zone ill-equipped to rebuild on their own,” said Cedric Harrison, founder of the 501c3 non-profit that’s dedicated to helping Wilmington residents develop a new sense of community. “The spirit we’re seeing is amazing; a real community effort to bring everyone back on their feet whether they can afford it or not. It feels like we have everyone helping – from my grandmother to lawyers and therapists, FEMA and local businesses, area churches and local non-profits. They’re donating everything from money and goods to time and advice as we prepare Wilmingtonians for a brave new future.”
Support the Port is delivering direct services from the Ebenezer Baptist location and to a series of distribution hubs throughout New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus and Pender counties. They need help with the following:
- Donations:
- Goods: medical supplies, cleaning supplies, fresh and canned foods, toys/books/baby supplies, water jugs, grill items, and school supplies.
- Money: will go to pay rent at the church, acquiring a dumpster, purchase food and gasoline, and to help re-start local businesses in need. Donations can be made at supporttheport.com.
- Volunteers: 75 – 100 people have volunteered daily, delivering food and supplies across Cape Fear. Volunteers are now needed to serve in expanded ways, with food and service coordination.
- Service Partnerships: organizations are working with Support the Port; more are welcome
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- Smash & Dash is using their food truck to deliver hot meals in Columbus, Brunswick and Pender counties. Food is supplied by World Central Kitchen and Operation BBQ.
- Wilmington Health is dispatching caregivers to administer first aid, take blood pressure and provide overall initial healthcare services.
- The American Red Cross is delivering hot meals daily
- Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministries, or WARM, is providing rebuilding services and resources
- Step Up Wilmington is connecting those whose jobs were lost with new opening
- New Hanover Regional Medical Center is providing on-site representatives to help direct citizens to health care recources
- The United Way of the Cape Fear Area is helping coordinate all non-profit endeavors
“Support the Port wants to assure that all populations have equal access to whatever funds are dispersed for recovery,” said Robert Rosenberg, a board member. “We are addressing mobility issues, the need for jobs, counsel, child care and home rebuilding, specifically in high poverty areas. Those looking to get involved can visually see the direct impact your help is making when sharing with Support the Port.”
About Support the Port
Support the Port Foundation, Inc. is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance, cultivate and provide a renewed sense of community ownership and excellence for residents of Wilmington, North Carolina. Through the arts, philanthropy and scholarship, Support the Port Foundation, Inc. will increase self-ability, and foster a nonviolent environment where excellence in these three realms are celebrated and expanded. For further information visit www.supporttheport.com
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