From the Red Cross, Salvation Army, North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, Food Bank of Alemarle to now the North Carolina Community Foundation, nonprofits have reached out to Beaufort County after the devastating tornadoes last Friday.

In the last week several restaurants have joined the effort as well, along with the Food Bank of Albemarle. The food bank has given food and toiletries to the victims in Beaufort County.

Down on Mainstreet, Burger King, Zaxby’s and Sheetz have all donated a lunch or dinner to The Salvation Army. When they have not been able to get a local restaurant, the Red Cross or Salvation Army has purchased meals for the victims of the storm to make sure they have a meal.

To assist the people who have had their homes damaged so severely by the storms, the Red Cross has put those individuals in a hotel for three days with the Salvation Army right behind the Red Cross giving people an entire week with a bed and shower.

When Cliff Harvell heard about the storms Friday night, he sprung the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church into action and got people organized Saturday morning for cleanup efforts.

The North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church earlier this week had 50 to 60 volunteers come to Chocowinity to help with the cleanup. People from Georgia and central North Carolina came to the area to lend a hand in the recovery efforts.

After reading a story about nonprofits lending a hand in the April 30 edition of the Washington Daily News, a local contactor donated over $1,000 to The Salvation Army.

North Carolina Community Foundation announced Tuesday, they have reactivated its Disaster Relief Fund. According to its press release, the funds raised are going to nonprofit programs to help tornado victims in Beaufort County, along with Chowan, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties.

There have been countless stories of neighbors helping neighbors after the disaster last Friday. With the help of many nonprofits springing to action Saturday morning, it has proved to be a community wide effort to get people back on their feet and trying to get life back to normal.

Most people always have an extra can of green beans in their cupboard or mac and cheese — give it to a food bank. If you have extra toiletries, donate them as well. It goes a long way when people are in need of assistance.