Inside Helping Hand Mission, the phone keeps ringing.
“We had over 600 people calling and needing food for the holidays. One lady couldn’t even wait for the holiday. She said ‘We’re hungry right now.’ She came over here and we put together her food box,” said Sylvia Wiggins, Executive Director with Helping Hand Mission. “There’s a lot going on. A lot of people are talking about Thanksgiving, but this is a daily problem.
Wiggins said they’re in need of heaters, with a table outside showing the final few still available.
“It would really help (families) out, brighten the day and save a life. Because I’ll tell you, the (cold) temperatures like last night, too many people, in particular, babies, they just can’t take it. It just bothers me. It worries me,” said Wiggins.
While electricity prices in North Carolina remain below the national average, they’ve increased over the last year.
Besides appliances, winter clothing continues to be in need.
“In this weather, we need layered clothing. And layered clothing, a lot of time we think of big coats, but think of thermals, t-shirts, double socks, and all the different things that people need,” Wiggins explained.