Bethel Christian youth pastors Andrew Pierce, left, and Brick Crowder serve hot dogs Monday at Southeast Elementary. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

As the recovery efforts begin, Bethel Christian Academy looked to assist where they could.

Bethel Christian served hot dogs, chips, cookies, and drinks outside of Southeast Elementary Monday. The church looked to serve about 300 residents across the community and members went through Simon Bright letting the area know.

Bethel Christian Youth Pastor Andrew Pierce said the team had the materials and sprang to action.

“With so many people affected in the community, we wanted to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ and help out,” Pierce said. “We had the grill and got to cooking.”

Tray Suggs, 16, said he appreciated the efforts.

“They’re doing stuff for the kids, which is good after the hurricane,” Suggs said.

Brick Crowder, a youth pastor for Bethel Christian and the school’s football coach, said it was a last-minute effort, but one with a rewarding end, as the organization acquired the necessary materials to feed hundreds.

“My wife, Allison, teaches here at Southeast and we know so many families have been affected by the storm,” Crowder said. “We just started making calls and we got permission to set up from the school to be a blessing to the community. Once we got permission (Sunday night) we said ‘let’s find some grocery stores that have some hot dogs, and we’re going to feed and love (the community.)”

Allison Crowder, a second-grade teacher at Southeast, said it was another opportunity to assist.

“I was thinking about some of the affected areas in Kinston and wanted to see what we could do,” Crowder said. “I was also worried about my kids and wanted to see them.”

Among the volunteers at the event was Bethel Christian junior Tyler Eubanks, who also plays on the football team. Eubanks said his coach told him about the cookout and he jumped at the opportunity.

“I wanted to help others in their time of need,” Eubanks said.

Kinston resident Terence Parker said he liked what Bethel Christian did on Monday.

“It’s a good thing they’re doing with the church feeding the community,” Parker said. “It’s a step in the right direction.”

Bethel Christian also plans to come to Southeast Elementary again Tuesday, serving pizza around 11 a.m.