For Release: Immediate  Date: September 24, 1999

Contact: Renee Hoffman Phone: (919) 733-5027 (ext.231)

RALEIGH - Richard H. Moore, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety (CCPS), today announced that an effort is underway to recruit church congregations in undamaged parts of the state to help clean up the churches in the counties that were flooded by Hurricane Floyd. Called "Church2Church," the goal is to get damaged churches, synagogues and mosques open and holding services as soon as possible.

"When Hurricane Floyd devastated Eastern North Carolina, it not only destroyed homes and farmland, it also severely damaged the bedrock of our communities…our houses of worship," said Sec. Moore. "It's our faith communities that help us all get through this kind of disaster, and we need congregations in other parts of the state to lend a hand to get these churches open."

A toll free phone line and E-mail address have been set up to take requests for assistance from damaged churches as well as volunteer church groups willing to help. The phone number is 1-888-595-1459, and the E-mail address is "Church2Church@NCCrimeControl.org."

Volunteers from Raleigh-area congregations are taking the messages and matching volunteers up with houses of worship needing assistance. PSAs listing the phone number and E-mail address will be sent to radio and TV stations in Eastern North Carolina. Capitol Broadcasting Inc. in Raleigh donated the production and distribution of the PSAs.

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