Following four days of additional rain in already flood-ravaged Eastern North Carolina communities, two of the state's largest companies are pledging money for disaster relief.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Food Lion are each giving $1 million to the N.C. Hurricane Floyd Disaster Relief Fund, the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., reports.

Estimates from N.C. Gov. Jim Hunt's office show 22,000 business and individuals from 25 states so far have donated to the fund. Although exact totals are not yet known due to the volume of response, Hunt's spokesman Tad Boggs stated that about $2.2 million was in the fund and about $400,000 was pending. The funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Food Lion will be added to those totals.

The fund is being administered by the United Way of North Carolina. In addition to the monetary donations, Blue Cross & Blue Shield is donating $50,000 in medical supplies. Glaxo Wellcome in Research Triangle Park, N.C., also handed out medical supplies in addition to a cash grant of $50,000 to the American Red Cross and a matching amount to the other Hurricane Floyd fund. Glaxo also is matching all employee contributions until Oct. 15, and the company is collecting donated items from employees.

Additional help comes from Philadelphia-based Pew Charitable Trusts, which is giving a $600,000 emergency grant for disaster relief and recovery.

The Pew money will be distributed through the American Red Cross, which has raised an estimated $4 million toward its $25 million goal.

The donations and collection drives are in addition to volunteer efforts ongoing throughout the state. WRAL-TV in Raleigh reports that volunteers in Nash County, are helping homeowners clean out water damaged homes. Residents also are being helped by volunteers from church groups throughout the state and by homeless men from the Durham Rescue Mission.

All Barnes & Noble stores in the state will hold a book fair on Friday, Oct. 1, with 20 percent of sales donated to the fund. Lorillard Tobacco Co. in Greensboro gave $150,000 to the fund and collected canned goods and bottled water from employees. Mt. Olive Pickle Co. in Mount Olive, N.C. donated $35,000 to relief agencies in the state and gave equipment and products to help in the effort.

For a complete list of events and donation sites that are organizing Hurricane Floyd relief efforts, visit the WRAL-TV Web site or the state's Hurricane Floyd Web site.

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