Butler County has a history of giving when people in their community fall on hard times. But county residents also have a penchant for looking outside of their immediate surroundings to help others elsewhere.

This was on display this week as county residents loaded up supplies to send to the victims of the devastating tornadoes that recently plagued Kentucky.

Resident Nikolas Flanders said he had the idea to “Cram a Coach” with supplies to take to Kentucky residents affected by the tornadoes, and Campbell Bus Lines agreed to support the mission.

Flanders parked a coach bus last weekend at Walmart in Cranberry Township, where residents were able to donate the supplies, and then stopped by Sam’s Club in Butler Township on Monday.

Supplies include food, hygiene products and other emergency supplies.

“There were people knocking on my door before I even turned the bus off,” Flanders said of the enthusiasm to support the mission.

Now is a very good time to give. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on communities across the nation. Combine that with a catastrophic natural disaster like a tornado, and a community can be overwhelmed.

It’s great to see Butler County residents being so conscientious to help those who suffered due to the tornadoes.

But it comes as no surprise. Butler County is often quick to jump at the chance to help others in their community and beyond.

Over the summer, the Rotary Club of Butler PM told the Eagle about its history of fundraising to support victims of disasters around the world, such as the Sri Lankan tsunami of 2004 and the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

On a more local level, all you need to do is scour editions of the Eagle from recent weeks and you’ll find story after story about holiday drives to help everyone from homeless veterans and food insecure children to those who don’t have adequate coats to keep themselves warm in the winter.

We’re glad to see county residents doing their part to help those affected by the tornadoes in Kentucky, and hope that county residents continue to do so as the pandemic rages on and catastrophes occur around the county, nation and world.

— NCD