Courtesy Theresa Opeka/Carolina Journal
A Boone Christian-based humanitarian aid organization, which has been at the forefront of helping with recovery efforts in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, received a boost Friday with over $50,000 of unclaimed funds from the North Carolina State Treasurer’s office.
State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell made a check presentation at Samaritan’s Purse North Wilkesboro office, along with Wilkes County state legislators, Rep. Blair Eddins, R, and Sen. Eddie Settle, R, to the organization’s Vice President of Donor Ministries Steve Nickel and other organization representatives.
“Amid the unimaginable loss, pain, and suffering felt in towns and crossroad communities ruined by raging flash floods of historic proportion, the spirit and strength of North Carolinians is shining through in our signature neighbor-helping-neighbor mentality,” Folwell said during the presentation. “The massive relief efforts of state-based organizations like Samaritan’s Purse deserve our appreciation and support,”
Money that has become undeliverable for various reasons is safeguarded at the State Treasurer’s office’s Unclaimed Property Division (UPD) until the rightful owners claim it. During a review of data in UPD, commonly called NCCash.com, staff from Folwell’s office found $50,130.96 belonging to Samaritan’s Purse.
Unclaimed property includes bank accounts, wages, utility deposits, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, bonds, and the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes.
“For more than 50 years, we have met desperate needs and saved countless lives with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ,” said Steve Nickel, Samaritan’s Purse vice president of donor ministries. “We work in more than 100 countries, ministering to victims of war, poverty, disease, famine, and disaster.”
He said the funds will equip Samaritan’s Purse with the resources it needs to reach those affected by Hurricane Helene.
“Our teams are responding in three areas to devastation across North Carolina, along with three additional sites in Florida and Georgia,” Nickel said. “We are assisting homeowners with roof tarping, mud-outs, debris cleanup, and chainsaw work. As many churches and organizations in western North Carolina are caring for people without access to basic necessities, Samaritan’s Purse is supplying them with food, water, and other relief to help them serve their communities,”
Samaritan’s Purse is providing relief to Boone and to other areas of Watauga County and surrounding communities in Ashe, Avery, and Buncombe counties — which includes Asheville, Black Mountain, Montreat, and Swannanoa. They are also assisting in Johnson County, in eastern Tennessee.
They have bases at Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone and the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville.
In a recent interview with Carolina Journal, Jason Kimak, Senior Director of North American Ministries with Samaritan’s Purse, said they have volunteers coming in from around the country and local volunteers showing up daily.
He also said they partner with chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. They come and spend time with affected families.
“It’s very traumatic,” Kimak said. “A lot of people are without hope and so they come in to just spend time with the families, pray with them, love on them, and then ultimately it comes with a message, and that’s that you’re not forgotten by the Lord. He loves you, and he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you, and you can have eternal life and a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ, and so we come with that message as well.”
When asked what people can do to help, Kimak first said to pray for the families that are hurting right now, trying to get back on their feet, get back to their homes, and a normal life. Also pray for local governments, first responders, emergency management, and their staff and volunteers.
“I’d ask you to go to samaritanspurse.org,” he said. “We love having volunteers. It is a major part of what we do to help these people, and so we’d ask for everyone to consider coming to volunteer with us so that we can help as many people here at each of our locations. Come serve with us for the opportunity to help people get back on their feet into their homes, but also hear a message that God loves them and he hasn’t forgotten them.”
Under state law, NCCash.com is safeguarding nearly $1.3 billion in funds turned over to the State Treasurer’s office. It represents 22.1 million properties statewide, and more than 25 million owners are associated with them.
