Over 70 volunteers gathered at Haven Hollow Park in Portage Township on Wednesday afternoon to aid residents impacted by a severe storm on August 11. The storm, a derecho, brought 99 mph winds, uprooting trees and causing extensive damage and power outages. Volunteers from various organizations provided essentials like tarps, bottled water, flashlights, charcoal, diapers, hygiene supplies, toys, children’s books, hot meals, sandwiches, and snacks.
The event, organized by the Portage Township Trustee’s Office, aimed to support residents who had been without power for several days. South Haven Lions Club member Pat Greek handed food to Patti Burton, a retiree affected by the storm. Many in Portage and the surrounding township had recently regained power but faced shortages of food and other necessities.
With assistance from community partners, the distribution offered aid to approximately 230 families. Brendan Clancy, Portage Township Trustee, noted many volunteers, including himself, had been without power while assisting. “As the power begins to come back on, people have different needs,” Clancy remarked. The storm had left many driveways blocked by downed trees and made maintaining critical medical equipment challenging.
The Bonner Senior Center in Portage became an emergency shelter within 24 hours of the storm, providing over 570 meals and 152 overnight stays. It offered cots, bedding, toys, movies, a projector, and even a popcorn maker to those in need.
“Everybody I called is like, we’ll be there,” Clancy shared, emphasizing the community’s rapid response to the crisis. Contributions came from places like Ohio County, which sent water, sports drinks, and diapers.
Among the recipients was Patti Burton, who needed tarps, charcoal, and diapers for her great-grandchildren. Her home was flooded, but she managed to avoid more severe damage. She noted the support and kindness from the community as she managed generator expenses during the power outage.
Kirt Raisor, from American Legion Post 502 in South Haven, helped distribute supplies, including tarps for residents unable to leave their homes. Ruben Mendez, also from the Legion, oversaw hot meal distribution and identified food access as a critical community need.
Kayla Chavez, who attended with her young daughters, expressed gratitude for the support. Despite losing power and some tree damage, she felt fortunate. Chavez, a therapist working with autistic children, had been out of work due to the storm and appreciated the opportunity for her children to socialize and receive snacks and toys.
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