MILAN, Mich. — A charity organization in Milan, Michigan is recovering with the help of the community after downed limbs and powerlines caused extensive damage during Wednesday's storm.
The mayor of Milan declared a state of emergency in the city following the storms. 60% of Milan remains without power but no one was killed and there were no serious injuries, according to city officials.
Aid in Milan, Inc. - a nonprofit group that serves the city and residents of the Milan Area Schools District by providing food and financial assistance - experienced part of the destruction first-hand.
Trees were damaged and limbs fell onto its building on Main Street and crushed the mobile food pantry vehicle.
The organization says many Milan residents immediately offered help after the damage.
"It's a little bit sad, but also kind of inspiring, I guess," said Joy Whitenburg, executive director of Aid in Milan. "So when the high winds came through earlier, it came straight down Main Street, which is right where our building and our mobile pantry is located and so we had quite a few trees fall on our building and on our van, which is our mobile pantry."
No one was inside the building at the time and no one was hurt.
The property remains unsafe due to powerlines that need to be cleared but the pantry plans to reopen and resume Grab N Go meals Tuesday.
Until then, it will be temporarily relocated to Milan Free Methodist Church, according to Aid in Milan.
Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact info@aidinmilan.org.
Aid in Milan, Inc. is accepting donations as well and at the time of this writing, over $1,900 has been raised by the community. To make a donation in support, you can follow this link.
Further updates for residents who need assistance will be provided on its Facebook page.