'Sunday Supper' held in Raleigh to benefit hurricane victims
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RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh was transformed Sunday into a giant dinner party to raise money for Hurricane Matthew victims.
Harris Vaughan and Joyce Kohn are behind the fundraiser called The Sunday Supper: Fight the Floods with a Fork. Both are from Eastern North Carolina and understand how much that area needs help after the devastating floods.
Plenty of small businesses and volunteers in Raleigh helped put on the event. Everything was donated -- from the food, to the decorations, and even the music. More than 300 volunteers participated.
They set up 126 tables that can seat 1,000 people. The tables stretch from Martin Street to the capitol.
The proceeds of the $20 meal will go to the hurricane victims through the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
"I think it's healing for us as a city when we are very divided about so many things right now," said Mayor Nancy McFarlane. "It's a just great time for us all to come together as one."
There are 3 bands and 1 gospel choir performing. Twenty-two restaurants and retailers along with 4 food trucks and a brewery are all donating a portion of the proceeds to victims as well.
Mayors of some of the hardest hit areas were at the event.
"We had people that lost their lives, lost their businesses, lost their homes," said Four Oaks mayor Linwood Parker. "So we want to remember all those folks, and then we want to say thank you to the people that put this on."
The reserved seats at the tables were sold out in four days. If you would like to donate, click here.
"There is tremendous need still in our community. We've got seven hotels in Kinston, four of which still haven't even opened," said Kinston mayor BJ Murphy. "One may never be able to open because of the devastation."
