Local Red Cross unit moving to downtown Kinston

The Lenoir County American Red Cross is moving.

“(We) will be moving from (our) original location on North Queen Street to its new location in the Kinston Enterprise Center, also on North Queen Street,” Bill Taylor, the chairman of the Lenoir County American Red Cross, said. “This is a great location with better exposure.”

James D. Jarvis, the executive director of the Cape Fear Chapter of the Red Cross, said it’s important the community knows it can still come and receive the same services in the new location.

“This visible location will allow the Red Cross to participate in the revitalization of downtown Kinston,” he said. “The American Red Cross was founded in 1881, and we look forward to working the community partners located in the Kinston Enterprise Center building. The American Red Cross offers services in both Greene and Lenoir counties and will continue to do so in time of disaster, and in time of clear skies, just as they always have.”

Originally, an open house was scheduled to promote visibility for the move, but the Enterprise Center was closed Friday in observance of the Easter holiday. Jarvis isn’t sure if the open house or ribbon-cutting will be rescheduled.

Leon Steele, the executive director of Pride Of Kinston, said he is happy to have the Red Cross in his building. He said there are several nonprofit organizations that would benefit from the move.

“(The Lenoir-Greene) United Way, Kinston Area Recovery Efforts, or KARE, and N.C. Rebuild are good nonprofits to have on site with the American Red Cross,” he said.

The Red Cross had a large impact with Hurricane Florence recovery in 2018. More than 3,500 Red Cross disaster workers assisted with sheltering, feeding and supporting victims of the hurricane. More than 92 percent of its disaster workers are volunteers.

Because of the storms’ disruptions, some blood drives were forced to close since September, causing more than 6,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations.

Jarvis stressed the community should understand the move will not change any of the services they offer, but that the Red Cross will be ready if another disaster approaches.

Kristy Bock is a writer for Neuse News. You can reach her at Kristy@neusenews.com.