A team which earned its wings courtesy of Hurricane Matthew is primed to help local victims of Hurricane Florence.

The Kinston Area Recovery Effort (KARE), in partnership with Lenoir Emergency Management, Lenoir Association of Congregations and Lenoir – Greene United Way and others, has refined its efforts to lend aid to residents who sustained losses due to Florence.

The organization is ready to receive financial donations at its downtown address (327 N. Queen Street, Suite 109, Kinston 28501) or via its facebook page: https//www.facebook.com/KinstonRecovery, and hitting the donate button. Donors should clearly designate funds are for Hurricane Florence relief.

A staging area for receiving volunteered goods and items has been established at the Fairfield Recreation Center at intersection Vernon Avenue and Greenbriar Road. The center will receive cleaning supplies, nonperishable foods, hygiene kits, paper supplies such as towels, kleenex, wipes and only new, packaged clothing. Red Cross volunteer Cassie Canady will manage the staging center.

An Unmet Needs task force is being re-created such as the group which was formed after Hurricane Matthew to share information and to help distribute assistance. It is anticipated that the Unmet Needs group will include reps of the Association of Congregations, Salvation Army, Greene Lamp, Red Cross, Social Services, local government, and other nonprofit organizations.

June Cummings, former head of United Way and her successor Molly Taylor, will be leaders in the coordinated effort, along with Vito Bisogno, chair of the Association of Congregations, and Adrian King, director of KARE. KARE will organize the Unmet Needs movement.

For more information call: 252-525-6139. Adrian King