Friends return home after bringing relief supplies to North Carolina

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MANSFIELD, MASS. (WLNE)— When Florence hit the Carolinas last week the wheels were already in motion for two friends to pack up their truck with relief supplies and drive to where they might be needed. On Saturday, Anthony Linden and Dean Prohaska collected the items donated from community members and made the more than 800 mile journey from Mansfield, Mass. to North Carolina.

“We drove all the way over night. And we didn’t stop. We arrived near New Bern right as dawn was breaking,” said Linden.

They were in the state for several days and what they encountered was far worse than the friends from the Edgewood Church of Christ could have imagined. Their first impression was that the situation was ‘way worse than what’s shown on TV.’

“I’d say half of the roadways were covered in power lines, tree debris or flooded out,” explained Linden.

The two pushed through, making it to the hard hit community of Newport. Their goal was to bridge the gap until agencies could mobilize and help more long term.

“A lot of the people hadn’t showered in days and to be able to give some dry shampoo and some baby wipes and a little bit of stuff to help them stay fresh and clean,” he said.

Along the way the men documented their journey to help those affected by the storm. The spirit they found in the people there brought the men to tears. Linden told ABC6 the story of one woman who they met along the way and her response to what they were able to provide her.

“She called her dad and she goes, ‘Dad. These guys from Massachusetts just gave me a cup cake!’ But she was so happy. I mean, how do you lose it all and be happy? And it’s just what made her happy was a little bit of kindness,” said Linden.

The Dighton men are back home now but say should the call come again, they’ve already got the gas money to go where they’re needed.

© WLNE-TV 2018