PENDER COUNTY, N.C. -- Hundreds of county residents in need lined up for resources at a pop-up hurricane distribution center at Gateway Community Church in Burgaw Thursday.

  • Organizers held the pop-up distribution center at Gateway Community Church in Burgaw
  • Local organizations gathered to offer free food, clothes, and resources to recovering hurricane survivors
  • Need is still great as many didn't have flood or storm insurance on their houses

Local organizations including Southeastern Community & Family Services, Inc.; Pender United; Habitat for Humanity; Emergency Storm Crisis Action; Hope 4 NC; Pender County NC Works; Pender County Health Department; Catholic Charities; and more came together to offer free food, clothes, and resources to recovering hurricane survivors.

One organizer said the need is still so great in their county because many residents didn't have flood or storm insurance on their houses.

"[There are] probably over 2,000 or more people that are still homeless in Pender County," said Corinthian Simpson, Southeastern Community & Family Services, Inc. "Sometimes, if you're staying with family, you know, people don't consider you to be homeless, but, they're sleeping on sofas or floors, anywhere that they can find."

Organizers say about 200 people came to the center to learn about the groups that may be able to help fill in the gaps for those recovering.