Funds sent to Holaway to help with hurricane relief

By Becky Uehling

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

Nearly $3,000 has been raised and sent from the Perkins County area to former Grant resident Brian Holaway who is using the money to assist with hurricane relief in Florida. 

Hurricane Ian decimated the Southwest Coast of Florida at the end of September near Fort Myers and Cape Coral, near Captiva Island where Holaway lives. Holaway is involved with relief efforts in and around Pine Island, Florida. 

Helping to lead local fundraising efforts is Jerry Harms. 

Holaway used to work for Harms when he was in school in Grant, and also went to church with Harms at what was then called the Mennonite Brethren Church, which is now New Life Fellowship. 

“It doesn’t surprise me one bit that Brian went to work helping whomever he could,” Harms said. “That’s just him. He is one of a kind.”

The day after Hurricane Ian hit on Sept. 28, Holaway went to work with his own resources from his water guide service, teaming up with other local citizens to assist those in need. 

Asked why he immediately jumped in to help, Holaway recalls an impressionable experience from his youth where his family and several from his church went to Grand Island in 1980 to assist after the tornado outbreak known as The Night of the Twisters. Seven tornadoes touched down in or near the Grand Island that night, killing five people and injuring 200.

“It was a Thursday when my dad said, ‘we are going to Grand Island to help with the tornados that went through.’ I was 12 and disappointed at the time that I would miss Dukes of Hazards on Friday night,” Holaway said. “I’ve never forgot that (experience).”

The Holaways went to Grand Island a part of the Mennonite Disaster team, along with several from his church, including Harms. A load of supplies was taken from Grant to assist that disaster. Forty-two years later, Holaway finds himself in another disaster, but this time it is in a place he has called home for 28 years. 

“The islands and people I both love have had extensive damage of epic proportions,” he said.

Holaway is helping alongside what he calls a bunch of his “red neck friends.” 

“Just as with the Mennonite Disaster team when I was 12, many people are helping anyway they can,” Holaway said.

He said his team has been able to cut through all the “red tape” and go straight to the source of the issue. 

For example, his group is working directly with a pastor of a local church who is allowing the team to locate supplies. After contacting the pastor and making arrangements, the team was able to make the drop directly to the church the very next day. 

According to Harms, things are looking up in the area that Holaway is serving. Electricity was reconnected to the islands last week, and some stores are reopening that can help with the relief effort, Harms said.

Both Holaway and Harms thank the Perkins County area for donating to the cause, saying the funds are helping to make an impact. Those who would still like to donate can do so at Pinnacle Bank in Grant.

Holaway said over the past weeks he continues to recall the song “Times Like These” by the Foo Fighters and he hopes people think of them too. The lyrics are as follows: 

“It’s times like these you learn to live again.

It’s times like these you give and give again.

It’s times like these you learn to love again.

It’s times like these time and time again.”