Life

Hot dog fundraiser aids fellow court clerks hit by Florence

Henderson County court clerks Shauna Williams and Morgan Lowry serve hot dogs during a fundraiser for Jones County Clerk of Court workers who lost their homes to Hurricane Florence.

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 26, 2018

When Henderson County Clerk of Superior Court Kim Gasperson Justice heard about the troubles for a fellow clerk and his staff in Eastern North Carolina, she decided to hold one of the office's specialties — a hot dog lunch.

Jones County, south of Greenville and just west of New Bern, was devastated by the floods from Hurricane Florence.

"I think it was one of the hardest hit areas," Gasperson Justice said. "They had 40-plus inches of rain. There are seven people in that (clerk's) office and they all lost their homes. They can't use their courthouse. It flooded their files." Because of mold "they have to go in in hazmats suits."

The Jones County clerk's office is operating off site while crews tear out and replace flooring, carpet and sheetrock. The clerks need all manner of aid. None of them had flood insurance; their homes weren't even a floodplain and "it hadn't flooded down there in 500 years," Gasperson Justice said.

Larry Phillips grills hot dogs.The clerks bought 300 hot dogs at a discount from M&M market on Seventh Avenue. Steve Katsadouros at Hot Dog World donated slaw and chili. "My staff all donated the rest of the food," Gasperson Justice said.

Assistant Clerk Larry Phillips stood under a picnic tent in a yellow rain slicker grilling the dogs. Jeff Thompson of Harry's and Piggy's loaned the cooker for free.