Cooler Kindness: Myrtle Beach Neighborhood Spreads Hope After Hurricane Helene
In the sunny city of Myrtle Beach, there’s a heartwarming effort underway that showcases just how strong our community can be when times get tough. Residents are coming together with a mission to help those impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. How? With a chilly surprise—coolers filled with drinks and hope!
A Gift of Coolers
Jonathan Painter, a Myrtle Beach local and the brain behind the Comeback Cooler initiative, describes this effort as “the gift that keeps on giving.” The focus is simple yet powerful: to provide iced coolers packed with refreshing drinks to folks who are dealing with the aftermath of the storm. In his own words, it’s all about spreading warmth through cool gifts. “The biggest thing is encouragement,” Painter said. “We want to show people hope and love and let them know they haven’t been forgotten.”
Understanding the Need
As Painter explains, many people, including locals like Kimberly Conner, are inspired to lend a helping hand after seeing the news about the destruction and despair caused by the hurricane. “Watching all the news clips, seeing the struggles, the loss, you can’t even comprehend it,” Conner shared. With a heartfelt spirit, she donated her own cooler filled with a variety of drinks, aiming to ease some of the burdens faced by those in need.
What’s Inside the Coolers?
So, what exactly are these Comeback Coolers filled with? Picture this: ice-cold water, Gatorade, soda, and even a few cold beers! The idea behind these coolers is to provide a small slice of normalcy to families as they start the long journey of rebuilding their lives post-storm. It’s a simple gesture, but sometimes the little things can have the biggest impact.
A Lesson from the Past
Painter’s own neighborhood faced its challenges during Hurricane Florence back in 2018, and they felt firsthand how valuable such kindness can be. In fact, his whole family is involved in this community effort, spreading joy through these coolers, just as they did during Hurricane Ian when his daughter was only three years old. Painter recalls, “She was pointing out how much kids’ stuff was being thrown away, and we had to explain to her why that was happening.” What a tough lesson for a little one to process! But now, they’re turning that understanding into action by helping others.
Reaching Out
This time around, Painter and his crew are setting their sights on helping the communities of Greenville and Spartanburg, with an ambitious goal of reaching about 1,000 people affected by the storm. And with support coming from groups spanning five states, it’s truly a team effort.
How You Can Help
Want to join in on this incredible mission? There are plenty of ways to contribute! Whether it’s donating drink items, helping to pack the coolers, or even assisting with deliveries, there’s a spot for everyone. As Conner put it, “It doesn’t take much to make a difference, no matter how big or small your contribution is.”
If you’re looking to lend a helping hand, mark your calendars! There’s a packing party happening this Thursday at 5 p.m. at 665 West Oak Circle Drive in Myrtle Beach. The group is planning to hit the road Friday morning to deliver these coolers full of hope and refreshment to the upstate.
In a time when people could use a bit of extra warmth and kindness, Myrtle Beach shows once again that our community spirit can shine bright—even in the face of adversity!
