Beaver County community holds supply collection for people impacted by Ian
At least two trailers will leave for Florida early Monday morning
At least two trailers will leave for Florida early Monday morning
At least two trailers will leave for Florida early Monday morning
One Beaver County man is stepping up and collecting items for people impacted by Hurricane Ian.
“We just want to be able to step up and go help our neighbors down South,” Luke Berardelli said.
At least two trailers full of supplies will head to the Naples area early Monday morning. Luke says it’s a trip that will take more than 20 hours.
But first, for the next several days, the Beaver County community will come together for the collection at Brighton Township Social Hall.
“You just put yourself in their shoes down there, and I can only imagine if something happened to myself or my family and we need help, we would want it,” Berardelli said.
It’s not Luke’s first time helping those devastated by natural disasters. His first trip was to Mayfield, Kentucky, after tornadoes hit the area.
“That really opened my eyes to what this community is all about which is people coming together to help when our fellow Americans need that help,” Berardelli said.
Now, Berardelli will again partner with the Brighton Township Volunteer Fire Department to haul items down South. In this case, the Beaver County resident said generators will be in high demand. There are more than 2.5 million people without power in Florida.
“That is going to be our big push this time, extension cords, work gloves, we are taking water, granola bars, protein bars, things like that, rake shovels,” Berardelli said.
Volunteers will collect items from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
And if more trailers are needed, Berardelli said they'll make it happen.
“You never know. It’s not like you have a RSVP list, but knowing this community, knowing this county and Western Pennsylvania, and even on the Eastern side of Ohio, our border state, I anticipate it will be big,” Berardelli said.
Brighton Township Social Hall is located at 5400 Dutch Ridge Road in Beaver.