"The response we have received has been an overwhelming act of humanity," said Fran Farrer, president of the Excelsior Club Humanitarian Organization.
"We always knew that people knew about us, but this effort truly made me realize how much people support us."
ECHO launched a drive to raise $10,000 for Floyd victims last month.
Within two weeks, the goal was reached and ECHO began a second drive to benefit Princeville, the nation's oldest black-founded municipality.
The group established a two-tier program where contributors could give
at least $100. The second tier is contributions under $100 and clothes.
"We met on a Wednesday to discuss it and by that Sunday we were halfway to our goal,"
Farrer said. "We held a victory party last night but we are still going to be accepting contributions."
ECHO began its effort around the same time the Afro-American Cultural Center began
collections for flood survivors in Tarboro, Bethel, Princeville and Conetoe. The items will primarily benefit the congregation and surrounding community residents of Word of Faith
Church of God in Christ. Elder James E. Horton, minister of the church, will be in charge of distributing supplies to members.
"Sidney Horton, who works at the center is from Eastern North Carolina and part of his family was affected by the storm," said Joy Plummer, membership coordinator of the AACC.
"As a staff we began an effort to help out those in the community because Sidney's brother is a pastor in that area. We contacted good people who sent the information out across the
Internet and people just come out and helped."
The first collection took place Sept. 25. The second, on Oct. 2, filled a 17-foot moving truck.
"When we pulled up and began unloading the items on the trucks, people's eyes just filled up and they just clapping," Horton said. "That area was just devastated by the storm and people
need the most basic things in the world."
Churches like Friendship Baptist and Full Gospel Ministries are also collecting goods.
Full Gospel, located at 3641 Central Ave., is taking donations at the church as well as Ford Container Industries, 1022 Woodward Ave. from 8 .m. to 5 p.m. The 18-wheel Love Truck
will leave for the stricken part of the state Saturday.
