Bethel Park community continues strong support for flood relief
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Volunteer firefighter Stephen McGough climbs the ladder of the aerial truck to mount the U.S. flag during the Bethel Park Family Fun Festival at Independence Middle School.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Members of the Bethel Park High School dance team perform during the festival.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Shady Mugs performs at the Bethel Park Family Fun Festival.
They say that life imitates art, and that can apply to what has transpired in Bethel Park after hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded June 20.
“It’s like a Hallmark movie,” Becky Luzier said. “You hear about something bad happening and you hope the community responds, but then you don’t know what that’s actually going to look like. But there are just so many people across Bethel who have assisted in some way, great or small.”
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Becky Luzier, president of the Black Hawk Family Relief Fund, speaks during a recent get-together at the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center for volunteers who have been helping with flood relief in Bethel Park.
As president of the Black Hawk Family Relief Fund, a nonprofit organization that is providing financial assistance for those affected by the flood, Luzier has watched members of the community open their wallets for their neighbors. Nearly $40,000 has been raised since she and the fund’s other board members sprung into action almost immediately after the deluge.
A mid-July disbursement provided approximately $14,000 to some 35 families, and another $25,000 is available for another distribution. Luzier hopes to set up a central location at which an eligible resident can receive a check shortly after submitting an application.
“All we’ll be doing is checking it against the list from the municipality of affected properties,” she explained, “and as long as you’re on that list and everything’s in order on your application, we’ll get the money out to families as quickly as possible, which has always been our goal.”
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Lauren Bradley is the founder of and administrator for the Citizens of Bethel Park Facebook group.
The relief fund board was scheduled to meet Aug. 14 to finalize the details, with a disbursement total that gained $10,000 with the proceeds from the Aug. 12 Bethel Park Family Fun Festival at Independence Middle School.
“I’ve just been completely floored by the amount of generosity in the community,” organizer Megan Armet said during the event. “As you can see, we’ve had tons of people donate baskets and their time, and kind of helping out in any way they possibly can.”
The event took up most of the school’s parking lot with vendors from the community, activities for children, plenty of food and beverages, a visit from the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company’s aerial truck, and a rousing Southern Rock performance by the band Shady Mugs, members of which donated their time and talents to the cause.
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Harry Funk / The Almanac
A face painter decorates Penelope Balta during the Bethel Park Family Fun Festival at Independence Middle School.
Even though she moved to Bethel Park just this spring, Armet was eager to do what she could to help in the wake of the flood, which resulted in three inches of water in her house just prior to a scheduled family vacation.
“We’ve really enjoyed our time here, and jumping into doing something like this, you obviously learn a lot of names really fast, and you learn the character of the town,” she said. “This community has been absolutely amazing, and we’re so lucky to be from Bethel Park now.”
A key component for sparking flood-related action has been the Citizens of Bethel Park Facebook Group, which connects members of the community.
Mayor Jack Allen recently presented certificates of recognition to the group’s founders and administrators, Lauren Bradley and Sydney Hadsell Litzenburger, and moderator Courtney Smith “for your outstanding job coordinating efforts to keep the residents informed during the flood aftermath.”
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Harry Funk / The Almanac
One-year-old Aiden Jenkins gets ready to take a shot on goal – well, maybe not exactly – during the Bethel Park Family Fun Festival at Independence Middle School.
Much of that information has been parlayed into cases of, as has been a recurring theme throughout, neighbors helping neighbors.
“There are people who helped who don’t really consider it helping, because they think, oh, I didn’t do a lot,” Luzier said. “But a lot of people did small acts of kindness for their neighbors and complete strangers that really helped propel this relief effort forward.”
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Harry Funk / The Almanac
Courtney Smith is a moderator for the Citizens of Bethel Park Facebook group.