Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc. awarded the NC Conference of the United Methodist Church (NC Conference) two grants totaling $95,286.00 from the Hurricane Florence Relief and Recovery Fund of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc. Both grants were designated for our Hurricane Florence disaster response efforts in Cumberland County.
One grant for $40,000, designated for case management services, went toward replacement of roof, siding, windows, kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures for three extensively damaged homes.
The second grant for $45,286, designated to fund a construction supervisor, enabled the NC Conference Disaster Ministries to continue Kelly Mathis’ employment at the Fayetteville Disaster Recovery Center where he has worked since 2017. Kelly has worked in the building supply industry for 31 years in sales, engineering and custom millwork, and as a subcontractor for new home builds.
Since September 2018 when Hurricane Florence brought massive flooding and devastation to our state, it has been termed by state officials as the costliest disaster in North Carolina history. And that’s just dollars. Counting the heartbreak and despair of those displaced by the storm due to damaged or destroyed dwellings, businesses and churches doesn’t fit neatly into a mathematical equation. The NC Conference Disaster Response Ministries is now working out of seven regional Disaster Recovery Centers in North Carolina, with another scheduled to open soon. In addition, three more satellite centers are scheduled to open in the next few weeks.
Al Miller, Director of Disaster Ministries, expressed his appreciation: The NC Conference of the UMC Disaster Ministries and the Federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) are very grateful for Cumberland Community Foundation and its efforts in helping with Hurricane Florence Disaster Relief. Through their generous funding, the Federal DRC has been able to hire a construction manager and proceed with rebuilding/recovery work on three homes in the Cumberland County area. We are very grateful for their continued partnership of our recovery activities and look forward to working together in the future.
Since Hurricane Matthew hit North Carolina in October 2016, the Cumberland Community Foundation has provided $297,938.80 in grants to the NC Conference through its Giving Together Hurricane Matthew Relief Fund and the Hurricane Florence Relief and Recovery Fund. Since its founding in 1980, Cumberland Community Foundation has awarded $53 million in grants to fulfill its mission: Giving together to enhance the quality and spirit of community life.