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MURFREESBORO – A county line does not serve as a barrier that prevents helping hands from reaching across.

While the main focus was fixed upon assisting victims in Bertie County who were impacted by a deadly tornado on Aug. 4 that spun off Hurricane Isaias, there were individuals in Hertford County that suffered storm damage as well.

“We knew we had to do something to help our friends and neighbors here in Hertford County,” said Rev. Dr. James W. Shearn.

A plan was enacted to get the West Roanoke Missionary Baptist Association (WRMBA) involved.

“Our Association is comprised of Hertford County and Bertie County,” Shearn explained. “We were all aware of the damage and the lost of life from the tornado in Bertie County. Bertie got hit hard.

“The Moderator of our Association, Rev. Roosevelt Whitehead, sent out letters to all of our member churches asking them to make contributions to the effort to assist the storm victims in Bertie,” Shearn continued. “Then the question was asked about what could we do as an Association to help those folks in Hertford County whose property was damaged from a smaller tornado that touched down the same morning.”

Rev. Roy E. Sharpe Sr., pastor of St. John 2^nd Baptist Missionary Church, said the effort to assist those in Hertford County came from the large number of items that were donated to help storm victims in neighboring Bertie County.

“I drove a truck over to the Bertie Donation Center, which was inside the gym at the Bertie Early College High School, and met with our Moderator and we loaded it with the items you see here today,” Rev. Sharpe said this past Saturday morning as he stood inside the Mt. Sinai Center for Advancement, located adjacent to Mt. Sinai Church of God at 913 Main Street, across from Food Lion in Murfreesboro.

The brunt of the damage in Hertford County occurred south of Murfreesboro along portions of Pine Tops Road and Vinson Hill Road.

“It made sense to use Mt. Sinai’s building here in Murfreesboro to serve those who were impacted by the storm,” Sharpe added. “We appreciate the hospitality of the host pastor here at Mt. Sinai, Rev. Arthur Clarke, for the use of their facility.”

Sharpe added that the items – which include clothing/shoes, toiletries, cleaning supplies, canned food, and school supplies – will be available from 9 a.m. until 12 noon on Saturday, Sept. 5.

“We will serve anyone who has a need,” Sharpe stressed.