Wellman resident Sarah Counter helped pass out food at a food pantry in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo courtesy of Sarah Counter.

A group of Kalona, Riverside, and Wellman residents recently traveled to West Palm Beach, Florida, to help those who were affected by the destruction of Hurricane Irma.

The group, led by Wellman resident Sarah Counter, helped distribute groceries from a food pantry, cleaned up trees and debris, and donated $600 that had been collected from residents of Washington County.

Counter’s favorite part of the trip was distributing burritos to the homeless; and she learned about other ways she can help the homeless in everyday situations, “One of the things that we were taught at the burrito project was to make little packs with water and granola bars, protein bars, things like that. You can keep that in your car and when you see somebody that’s homeless standing on a corner, all you have to do is reach down and grab that pack and hand it to them.”

Counter is inspired to make these packs for the homeless in southeast Iowa, “I want to educate myself on what we have for the homeless here in the Iowa City area, and I think I want to be more proactive on doing things for other people. It kind of sparked something in me.”

Homelessness is experienced locally, the Washington CHOICES center assisted four persons last month.

A group of Kalona, Riverside, and Wellman residents helped clean up fallen tree limbs and debris caused by Hurricane Irma. Photo courtesy of Sarah Counter.