The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1962-03-23
EMER GENCY FOOD
AID FIGHTS HUNGER
FOR OUTER BANKERS

: - - - - 49, VI RAVsOVV " ululi-
CRY residents on the coast after the
Ash Wednesday Gale Of March 4.
Flour, meal, rice, beans, wheat,
lard, butter, milk, cheese, peanut
butter and meat headed the
list Of emergency rations" which
were made available through the
United States and North Carolina
Departments Of Agriculture.
Mrs. Raymond Wescott, Director
of Distribution and Mrs. Goltiie
Meekins, Superintendent Of Public
Welfare, have reported that 429
families We're served under the
emergency program and that some
1861 persons received food via hell
copter, truck and any other trans
portation necessary to reach water
stranded natives on the Outer
Banks.
The ladies were directly assisted
by Jay Davis, Director of Surplus
Food Commodities for North Caro-
lima, M. j. Pierce, Assistant Direc-
tor for the North Carolina Depart
ment of Agriculture, S. T. Avera,
Field Representative for Commodi-
ty Distribution, and Ross Edwards
and Stanley Prochaska, Field Rep
resentatives of the Atlanta Division
Of the U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture.
The dried foods were donated
without cost to the county and
transportation to county storage
points was paid for by the state.
A typical example of the critical
need which was filled by those con-
nected with the program is the
case of Mrs. Dan Leary Of Salvo
who said that "We were down to
our last half loaf Of bread when
the food arrived" The dehydrated
foods were given life by water
which was made available in in
dividual cartons and giant tanks
when ordinary water sources be
came unpotable because of their
high salinity content.
When the helicopters set down at
Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo, local
citizens groups came running to
the choppers and distributed the
food to their neighbors. Fred Gray
and other citizens worked late into
the night ensuring that every FAM
lily was provided for.
Pvt. James Turner from the
Elizabeth City National Guard was
the driver of an army truck and
performed yeoman service for 8
days as he delivered supplies to the
families on old sound side road
(now washed out) and to water
surrounded homes along the beach.
Turner also aided residents of Col
ington Island with his mercy mis-
sions of food.
On Sunday, the 18th, the first
distribution was made of food. to
families in the Duck area by Sgt.
Hal Kemp, another cooperative Ma
tional Guardsman from Elizabeth
City who assisted in rescue opera
lions in that critical area.
On Tuesday, Mrs. Goldie Meekins
and Jay P. Davis, went to the COM
munities south of Oregon Inlet to
survey the situation and plan for
food distribution. Aware of press
| ing needs there, Mr.. Davis return
ed to Kitty Hawk Elementary
School and filled two helicopters
! for return trip to Rodanthe. When
every family there was served, he
and Mrs. Meekins moved on to
| Waves and thence to Salvo, return
ling whenever the food gave out,
Fifty families were served by this
mission.
Mrs. wescott had previously
spearheaded the Hatteras Island
operation when she arrived by
ferry from Engelhard on Wednes-
day night to bring the first ship
ment of food to that isolated and
water engulfed area. She and her
rescue crew are said to have worked
until early morning on Thursday,
without stopping for nourishment,
in valiant battle against adverse
weather and poor communication
facilities. eve could never have
succeeded without the aid of the
various citizens in each community
who indicated their concern for
their neighbors by helping us dis
tribute the packages" she has
stated.
Letters have been received from
all over the county praising those
connected with the emergency ra-
ton distribution. One Of the most
touching is to Mrs. Goldie Meelins
from Mrs. Louise Leary and Mrs.
Lucy Hooper Of Salvo which reads,
in part, as follows: GAS we watch
ed the lights of the helicopter rise
in the dark above our island this
evening we felt a prayer rising also
from our hearts to the One who is
Master over storms, and night. A
prayer for your safety, and the
ones with you Now in behalf
of our Church, The Assemblies OF
God, we wish to thank you, and
each helping hand, for your kind