Upon the truck's arrival, eager Boy Scouts, college sororities and high school students helped unload the trucks. The trucks quickly left. For ten nights, at no cost, a motel in a nearby county hosted seven families who had lost their homes. The owner even moved in refrigerators for them. He did this though his motel was full with utility workers and insurance adjusters eager to pay any price for lodging.
Hundreds can tell of emotional experiences.
Angie Kollar of the Onslow County Tourism Bureau described the joy and tearful gratitude of people receiving individual bars of soap, toothpaste and razors. When one has lost everything and is in a shelter where you bathe on days assigned by the letter of the alpha bet, your personal bar of soap is a priceless treasure. Jeanne Nociti of the Topsail Chamber of Commerce, a two person operation, was overwhelmed by the catastrophe there. She did not have time to think about outside assistance until Jane Peterson called to offer help and trucks began arriving. Nociti found that people were much more comfortable in accepting relief items at her office or a church distribution point.