Oct 21, 2016

By: Chelsea Haley, DKI Ventures, LLC

This week DKI is restoring more than just properties!

As you have seen or read about last week, we were more than prepared for Hurricane Matthew, with our contractors from around the country set up at specific locations, with the required equipment and resources supplied by our vendors/sponsors. Since the hurricane hit, the DKI Team has been busy meeting with clients and assessing and repairing damaged properties. As our contractors have seen the effects of Hurricane Matthew, both physical and mental, they started brainstorming ideas to restore, not just their clients’ properties, but also their lives and hope.

Bryn Lopes, our National Project Consultant, met with the city of Lumberton in North Carolina to discuss a possible community luncheon for the residents of the area who were impacted by the hurricane. Together they decided on holding a cookout with barbequed burgers and hot dogs, and plenty of snacks. Several DKI member companies participated, offering to barbeque and hand out lunches.

And… word quickly spread through social media!

What began as a small, one-day cookout at the grounds of one of the local churches quickly developed into a partnership with the National Guard, American Red Cross, North Carolina Agricultural Department, making it an opportunity for THOUSANDS within the community to enjoy food, clothing, supplies and more.

PLUS, the cookout was such a success that the city asked us all to return the following day to throw another community cookout.

Read more about it from the Robesonian and on our News’ Page.

We decided to continue the positivity throughout Robeson County by hosting Revival – a Baptist service, followed by another cookout. The event is expected to draw in thousands from the 39 local churches, which have not been able to have services in weeks due to the hurricane. DKI has been working on First Baptist Church in Lumberton, where Revival will be held, and will be cleaning up the parking lot and setting out DKI trucks so Pastor Murray can preach on one of our 35-foot flatbeds. Spread the word!