LUMBERTON — The wait for a free hot meal grew longer Friday as Early Locklear, who lost all his food in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, waited patiently with his wife for lunch from a Red Cross disaster relief feeding truck in the Elizabethtown Road Neighborhood Walmart parking lot.
Locklear joined many residents who had lost their homes, businesses and the essentials of life during this most recent storm. The meal consisted of a choice of meats, beef or chicken, rice, peas, fruit, and potato chips.
“I lost all my food,” Locklear said. “The water was floating up through the floor. We ran out of water for four days.”
Locklear couldn’t get water from the faucet, so he resorted to an old-fashioned method.
“We had an old hand pump from a well,” Locklear said. “That didn’t work either. We did what we had to do to survive.”
The lines for food, water and ice started at 11 a.m., with two packages of bottle water and ice per person. Walmart staff and the Lumberton Fire Department had employees on hand to load baskets to be carried away.
“I haven’t been able to drink in over a week,” Amy Locklear said. “It’s a blessing to get water.”
The county had a boil-water advisory that was dropped on Friday, and the city has urged conservation.
”I don’t trust the water,” Napolean Govan said. “I’d rather be safe than sorry. It means a lot to me to get this.”
“I’m here to get my mom some ice and water,” Andy Jacobs said.
Jacobs’ mother had lost power for a week, and she’s diabetic. After the power went out, everything was destroyed, he said.
“It’s been very difficult,” Jacobs said. “But the Lord has blessed us.”
The Red Cross truck provided hot meals for the line of neighborhood residents that stretched through the parking lot.
“It’s beautiful,” said Brenda Perkins after getting four meals. “When you need it, you get it.”
“When you have nothing in the freezer to cook,” Eliza Jones said, “this is great.”
Jones had lost power for three days during the Florence disaster. From the Matthew experience, she learned to plan ahead.
“I had charcoal, and propane to cook with,” Jones said. “We shared food with others, and gave charcoal to others that had no lights. We planned and prepared, and followed instructions we saw on television.”
Charles Bryant of South Lumberton was also happy with the meal.
“I’m grateful and thankful,” Bryant said. ‘The lights just came on yesterday. I had a lot of spoiled meat to throw away. “
The free meals would help to feed his mother and wife, Bryant said.
“They are a blessing,” Belinda Edwards said as she stood in line. “My whole house is sitting in water, and I can’t get in. I’ve been in the Lumberton High School shelter since last Thursday.”
Edwards was thanking God despite all she had endured.
“I’m thankful for life,” Edwards said. “We did make it through the storm; I know he’ll bring us through recovery.”