Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts Unite Newberry, S.C.
NEWBERRY, S.C. — In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the spirit of community has truly shone through as residents, local businesses, and organizations come together to help those in need. Among these inspiring individuals is 13-year-old Hannah Chapman, who has found a heartfelt and unique way to support her neighbors during this challenging time.
A Young Heart of Gold
As Hannah strolled through her neighborhood, she was struck by the sight of houses without power and the reality that many friends and neighbors had lost food from their refrigerators due to the storm. “This last week with the hurricane, I noticed there were so many houses that had nothing,” she explained. Drawing from her past experience, Hannah decided that she needed to take action. After launching her first lemonade stand at just nine years old to help a family friend’s daughter fighting brain cancer, Hannah has once again turned her entrepreneurial spirit to good use. With the support of her parents, she founded “Lemonade 4 Love”, aiming to raise money for fellow Newberry residents affected by the hurricane.
The Need to Help
Hannah’s heart is in the right place as she shared her reasoning for wanting to help: “I was just thinking about those on a set income. I mean, it may take them a while to pick themselves up from this, so I wanted to do something and raise money for them.” As her mother, Kimberley Smith, expressed how proud she is of her daughter’s dedication, it becomes clear that the emotional impact of this effort resonates deeply. “I can’t express enough how proud I truly am that she wants to help other people. Every person we have ever donated money to is so grateful, and they get teary-eyed. Hannah gets teary-eyed, too, but she knows she’s made such an impact,” Kimberley shared.
Inspiring Others to Get Involved
With a heart as big as her ambitions, Hannah hopes her efforts will spur kids her age to also get involved. “I would love to just see other kids my age getting involved and actually getting out from behind a screen,” she said, encouraging her peers to realize just how they can contribute to making a difference in their community.
Local Businesses Join the Cause
Hannah is not alone in her mission; local businesses are also stepping up to show their support. One such establishment, Roma’s House of Pizza, has selflessly offered complimentary plates of spaghetti to those affected by the storm. Regular customers Tom and Becky Abraham were not surprised by the generosity of Tony, the owner. “Tony is such a nice, warm guy. You can come in and joke with him,” Tom remarked. Becky added, “It was just the kindness out of his heart. He just wanted to help, and that was his way to share.” Roma’s House of Pizza has served over 600 meals to the community during and after the storm, demonstrating the power of local support during tough times.
Community Efforts Continue
As the Abrahams enjoyed their lunch at the bustling pizza spot, they shared that they weren’t sitting still either. “When we leave here, we’re going shopping and getting things on our list,” Becky mentioned. Their plans include gathering supplies to be taken to North Carolina, where communities were hit hard by Helene. This collective spirit of giving creates waves of change, illustrating how Newberry is uniting canvas of kindness and resilience as it rebuilds from the storm’s impact.
The incredible efforts from Hannah, local businesses, and other members of the community remind us all that during tough times, hope, love, and action can truly shine through, bringing people together in the most heartwarming ways.
