World Vision assists with hurricane relief efforts

The organization, headquartered in Federal Way, has helped send 18,000 supplies to the Carolinas.

By Haley Donwerth • September 30, 2018 7:30 am
World Vision distributed supplies to people affected by Hurricane Florence in North Carolina. Courtesy photo.
World Vision distributed supplies to people affected by Hurricane Florence in North Carolina. Courtesy photo.

World Vision, which is headquartered in Federal Way on Weyerhaeuser Way South, has been assisting with relief efforts in North Carolina after Hurricane Florence devastated the region.

Perrise Thomas, the public relations manager for World Vision’s Federal Way location said that according to their statistics, they’ve provided 12 full truckloads of emergency relief supplies to North Carolina, with more supplies on the way. Those supplies are enough to bring relief to 18,000 children and adults, Thomas said.

Distributions have happened in the following places: Fayetteville, Kinston, Jacksonville, Lumberton, Wilmington, and Wallace, North Carolina as well as in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

This isn’t the end of World Vision’s help though, Thomas said.

“World Vision is aiming to extend its Hurricane Florence relief and recovery efforts for the next 3-6 months,” she said in an email.

Additionally, Thomas said three truckloads have been sent to South Carolina to aid in relief efforts.

There were several people World Vision worked closely with during parts of the relief efforts, and one individual was Pastor Tim Lewis in Lumberton, North Carolina.

Lewis is a pastor at Oakdale Church of God, and was assisting with relief efforts in the community.

“Disasters are hard on people. But what I’ve come to see is it makes the church come out of their doors and into the community,” he said.

Lewis’ brother Gary was also helping with the relief efforts.

Sarah Guzman lived in Pembroke, North Carolina when Hurricane Florence hit, and was without power after the roads were closed or clogged with water.

Greater Hope International Church volunteers helped hand out the relief supplies to about 500 people, including Guzman.

“This helps because I couldn’t find diapers or water today. For you guys to come this way really is a blessing,” she said.

World Vision is a faith-based organization with locations around the globe, including Uganda, Serbia, the U.S. and Mozambique.

Their mission statement reads in part, “World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice, and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.”