Two organizations team up to help Berwick community after storm damage

BERWICK, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Two local organizations are teaming up to help their community in its time of need. They wanted to do something to help after the recent storm damage.

Everyone 28/22 News spoke with Sunday afternoon says coming together in a time of need is what Berwick is all about.

The message is we are all in this together: That’s what people in Berwick heard loud and clear Sunday.

Community Giving Foundation and the Berwick United Way got together and provided a free hot meal to storm victims and those who helped dig out of the mess.

“After what they went through after the storms, there were a lot of people who helped out, volunteered, people without power who lost a lot during that time so we just thought having a community meal today to give back and do what we can was the right thing to do,” said Community Giving Foundation President and CEO Kara Seesholtz.

You could pick up to-go meals or you could dine in and enjoy it family style.

All the food was donated by the Maria Assunta society, and on the menu.

“They’re famous homemade meatballs and pasta, salad and rolls so that’s the food for today. There’s 400 meals prepared and ready to go whether they’re eating in or taking home,” Seesholtz said.

Organizers say they could’ve helped in many other ways but chose food because it’s the best way to bring people together.

“The cost of groceries along with everything else has really increased over the last couple of months and so it’s actually a financial burden for a lot of our community members that have been without power for multiple days and had to throw away all their food and so if we could help out a little bit by just providing at least one meal,” said United Way Berwick Community Impact Coordinator Ayrin Shortlidge.

Everyone is a volunteer, including some students from Berwick Area High School, who wanted to give back to their community.

One teen 28/22 News spoke with says he knows some students who were impacted by the storm so it means even more to him to be able to help them out.

“I love to do it I mean, I try to do it as much as I can seeing the look on people’s faces and you know helping them and how grateful they are. It really makes my day and week I love to see it,” said Berwick Area High School Senior Gavin Jones.

For anyone interested in helping, organizers encourage you to volunteer at any local nonprofit that may need help.

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