NEWBERRY, S.C. — As Newberry County works to recover from the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene, local organizations, businesses, and residents are stepping up to help those in need. Among them is 13-year-old Hannah Chapman, who has found a unique way to support her neighbors.
“This last week with the hurricane, I noticed there were so many houses that had nothing,” said Hannah. “Most people did not have power, and I knew everything in their fridge would go bad.”
Hannah, who first opened her lemonade stand at age 9 to raise money for a family friend’s daughter battling brain cancer, has once again turned her efforts to helping others. With the help of her parents, she created "Lemonade 4 Love." Her most recent goal: Raise funds for those in Newberry affected by the hurricane.
“I was just thinking about those on a set income,” Hannah explained. “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.”
Hannah’s mother, Kimberley Smith, applauds her daughter's dedication to helping others.
“I’m just so proud of her,” said Smith. “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.”
Hannah hopes her efforts will inspire others her age to get involved in their communities.
“I would love to just see other kids my age getting involved and actually getting out from behind a screen,” Hannah said. “They can realize what is happening in the world right now and how they can make a difference.”
Hannah and her family aren’t the only ones stepping up. Local businesses like Roma’s House of Pizza have also joined the effort to support the community. The restaurant offered free plates of spaghetti to those affected by the storm.
Regular customers Tom and Becky Abraham weren’t surprised by the generosity.
“Tony [the owner] is such a nice, warm guy. You can come in and joke with him,” Tom said. 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 was able to serve over 600 people during and after the hurricane, providing much-needed meals to the community.
The Abrahams, who were enjoying lunch at the local pizza spot, shared that they too were getting involved in relief efforts.
“When we leave here, we’re going shopping and getting things on our list,” said Becky. “They will be taken to North Carolina, where they were hit hard by Helene.”
As Newberry County continues to rebuild, the outpouring of support from neighbors like Hannah, local businesses, and community members has shown how a community rallying together in a time of need, really makes a difference.