'Anybody that needs a hot meal,' Edwardsburg community rallies after major storm

EDWARDSBURG, Mich. -- As the village of Edwardsburg brings to recover following a deadly storm on March 6, community members are stepping in.

The focus is not only on rebuilding, it’s also on supporting neighbors who lost homes and everyone who has been impacted.

Residents, businesses and volunteers have begun organizing donation drives, preparing free meals and raising money for families affected by the storm.

The community gathered at the American Legion in Edwardsburg to distribute supplies and prepare meals. Dowagiac resident Bo Fricke partnered with Mavericks Barbecue and Countryside Lawn Care and Snow Removal to organize the effort, drawing volunteers from neighboring communities.

Fricke said the tragedy resonates deeply with him.

“We lost my son back in 2019 — he was 14,” Fricke said. “So, I definitely feel for the parents that lost their child.”

Don Gates, owner of Countryside Lawn Care and Snow Removal brought equipment, food and staff all the way from Elkhart to help feed the community.

“I grabbed a few guys, we brought up the truck and trailer with food and grills and smokers and we’re rocking and rolling,” Gates said. “Just trying to feed everybody, anybody that needs a hot meal.”

Volunteers are accepting donations and preparing meals from Sunday through Wednesday for anyone who needs one — whether they were directly impacted by the storm, helping with cleanup or simply need support during the difficult time.

Businesses in town are also raising money for recovery efforts.

“We’re offering 20 percent off anything anybody buys, and that 20 percent will go to help the storm victims,” Danielle Bentley, owner of Just Chillin Cafe, said. “We are also taking cash to give back to the community.”

The cafe raised more than $1,000 on the first day of the fundraiser, with many people stopping by not just to eat, but to drop off spare change or offer support.

“I’ve just had a lot of sad people coming in who have lost pretty much everything,” Bentley said. “I built this place so we could be a part of our community, so this is exactly what we wanted to be able to do.”

Edwardsburg Community Schools are also opening their doors to assist the recovery effort. School officials said they will begin accepting donation drop-offs at the Edwardsburg Public Schools Administration Center on Monday, asking anyone who is able to donate to consider gift cards to major retailers and restaurants to provide families with flexibility during these difficult times.