Middle High School Students Collect Aid for N. Carolina Flood Victims

COURT HOUSE – Grifton, “The Family Town,” is located in eastern North Carolina about 340 miles from Middle Township High School. During Hurricane Matthew, much of Grifton was flooded when the Contentnea Creek overflowed.
Grifton is the home of Edie Jones, a former Middle Township High School student and cheerleader. Because of that, when Rita Willis, a supervisor and teacher, read Jones’ Facebook page, she felt an immediate bond with the people there who were in great need, many left their homes to escape rising water, not knowing if they would see those homes again.
Willis turned to some service organizations for aid. Soon, that call for help “snowballed,” as she said.
That tidal wave of support resulted in 19 boxes of food, clothing, school supplies and $700 cash being sent to Caring Sisters Outreach in the stricken community.
Grifton is roughly the size of Whitesboro, about 1.7 square miles. Its population, last July, was 2,763.
According to reports on various news websites, Grifton residents vividly recalled similar flooding that struck in 1999 when Hurricane Floyd devastated the area.
Willis said the high school in Grifton has approximately the same student population as does Middle, so it was easy for students to understand the needs of their southern peers.
Joining to assist in the collection of goods and supplies were members of the Key Club, Class of 2020, the Go Green Club and mothers who sent food.
“The students dug deep,” said Willis.
The school supported a “Dress Down Day” when students were allowed to wear any clothing they desired, for a donation to the Grifton cause.
Willis noted one student who works two jobs, yet wanted to donate what he could to help someone else.
Jones wrote to Willis, “Thank you all again and again and again. The town is slowly but surely getting back together. Everyone is so thankful for all of your help and time and donations. We have started giving out bags of clothes to people and buildings are getting cleared to start rebuilding after the water has finally gone down.
“It took about a week after the flooding for the water to recede; people are now getting back into their houses and electricity has been restored. It’s still sad, but as we come together as a community, we are getting back to the norm.”
“Thank you, thank you, you are giving me so much hope and seriously bringing me to tears. Thank you for being there for us in our time of need.”
According to Grifton’s municipal website, it is”A progressive community situated on the banks of the Contentnea Creek in southern Pitt County. Grifton is conveniently located between the Global Transpark in Kinston and East Carolina University in Greenville.” The town has 15 employees.
A YouTube video taken by a drone showed the impact of the flooding in Grifton. Many homes were submerged, some were spared. Many businesses similarly sustained heavy damage from the flood.