Red Cross asking for donations
By Ty Johnson
Published in News on April 20, 2011 1:46 PM
The storms that ravaged eastern North Carolina over the weekend left a path of destruction that spared much of Wayne County, and that, Chuck Waller of the local chapter of the American Red Cross, is why residents in Goldsboro and the surrounding areas are in the best situation to help those in our neighboring counties.
Waller was not scheduled to speak Monday night at the City Council meeting, but the mayor and council saw fit to allow him to explain the Red Cross' needs in the aftermath of what some have described as the worst tornadoes and storms to come through the area since 1984.
Waller said that dollars were needed to help the surrounding areas, mainly because they could be converted to meet whatever needs those affected by the storms have.
"And those needs can change," he said.
So far, 22 volunteers and staff members have served 2,270 meals and distributed 60 comfort kits to those impacted by the storms. Two mobile feeding vehicles have patrolled the disaster area in Greene County and more than 40 individuals have stayed overnight in a Red Cross Shelter.
Checks can be dropped off or mailed to the Red Cross office at 600 N. George St. or at the American Red Cross website. Donations can also be made over the phone and WNCT-TV Channel 9 will air a telethon tonight from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. to raise money for disaster relief.
The council also determined a date for the redistricting public hearing during its work session Monday evening.
The hearing will be during the May 2 council meeting in City Hall at 7 p.m. and will allow for public input into the lines dividing the city limits into its six districts. Each citizen at the hearing will be permitted to speak for a maximum of three minutes on the district lines.
The 2010 census data indicated that a realignment of districts was needed in order to maintain a universal deviation of population density and racial balance. Planning Director Randy Guthrie presented the proposed districts to the council April 4.
District 4 Councilman Charles Williams and District 6 Chairman Jackie Warrick both expressed initial displeasure with the new districts. Rev. Williams' district grew to stretch across the entire city from east to west while Warrick's district shrunk into the most northeast corner of the city.