When two nonprofits were affected by flooding in early June, several Butler County organizations stepped up to help.

Jennifer Bindernagel, executive director of the Blind Association of Butler and Armstrong, said the nonprofit’s building was damaged as stormwater came up through a drain in the kitchen and then made its way into office spaces.

It amounted to about an inch of standing water, damaging the carpet, drywall and some vinyl tiles. Thanks to an employee who went to the normally closed office the next day, mold and mildew didn’t have a chance to build up. If that hadn’t happened, the damage would have likely been much worse.

Butler County Mental Health Association offered the Blind Association the use of its board rooms, and Steele’s Brushes and Ceramics offered its back room to the organization as it recovers from the flooding. Employees will work from home, trainers will meet clients at home and doctors will meet in other spaces.

Bindernagel said the association will adapt as it waits for its insurance company to complete its work and contractors to get started. She said the association building should be available again by the end of August.

The building is also used by Butler Lions Club, which stores its fundraising products there and holds meetings and events at the site. The Lions Club planned a bingo dinner for Blind Association clients this week that has been postponed indefinitely.

Trinity Lutheran Church has provided space for Lions Club meetings as building repairs are made.

In both cases, the community circled the wagons and ensured the Lions Club and Blind Association would be able to continue their important work.

“Out of a tough thing came a good thing,” said Connie Ivill, vice president of Butler Lions Club. “Our neighbors and churches reached out to help us out. This is just another example of how people will come through and help you out.”

Ivill said part of that is because the community knows that if there is a need, the Lions Club will be there to help, too.

It’s always so heartwarming to see the evidence of Butler County rallying around when neighbors are in need. Isn’t that what community is all about?

— KL