Wilmington Response uses parade float to announce new relief efforts
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Wilmington Response was forced to find a backup way to unveil their latest recovery efforts after the Wilmington Holiday Parade was cancelled.
The non-profit relief organization was able to make their way into the Burgaw Holiday Parade on Dec. 8 to showcase their holiday float, which features a shed decked out in holiday lights and decor.
The shed featured on the float is a replica of the sheds Wilmington Response plans to distribute to Hurricane Florence victims in Pender and Robeson counties if their initial plan does not work out.
Wilmington Response founder Nick Hiteshew says the organization is working on a program to get permission to build temporary housing in the two counties. If it does not work out, they will distribute sheds instead.
"This is our introduction to what we’ve been working on here. It has been a lot of work here in the last three weeks or better with the meetings we’ve had and everything else. This is actually going to be the model of the shed. It will be 8x8 built out of plywood and 4x4s so it is truly a secure situation for them,” said Hiteshew.
Hiteshew says secure sheds will allow those in need to store belongings and more supplies so they won't have to make as many trips to and from the Wilmington area.
“This one was actually built here and that’s exactly what our idea is to kind of transfer into and get everybody into that restoration process that we should have already seen after almost 90 days. Actually Monday will be 90 days after everybody’s activation period,” Hiteshew said.
The Wilmington Response team is currently working with Pender County to secure design permits.
“Our next step is we have to secure an engineer to do the blueprints and secure the design for us and then take that up there to take that permitted as well. That’s why we came up with the back up plan of well we can at least provide a shed,” Hiteshew said.
Follow Wilmington Response on Facebook for updates on more December relief efforts, including a Christmas tree drive and stocking giveaway.
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