Community Rallies to Support Local Businesses After Devastating Flooding in Savannah

Community Comes Together After Flooding in Savannah

In Savannah, Georgia, a flood last week left three beloved local businesses in a bind, and their owners are reaching out to the community for support. The charming shops, Goodfortune Market, Cast & Grey, and The Stacks Bookstore, were all affected by a burst pipe that wreaked havoc in their shared building.

A Heartbreaking Situation

For Becca Goossen, owner of Goodfortune Market, the experience was a total nightmare. Her shop had only opened a few weeks prior, and to see it inundated with water was devastating. “To have something like this happen that is such a big devastation is really just heartbreaking,” Goossen expressed. The incident occurred on a Thursday, and it wasn’t just her store that took the hit.

Emily Hinners, who owns Cast & Grey, a vibrant botanical shop next door, had to make a quick decision when she discovered the flooding. She immediately closed her doors for cleanup, running fans and dehumidifiers non-stop. “In addition to being closed on Thursday, I needed to be closed on Friday and Saturday as well because these machines are a tripping hazard,” Hinners explained. It quickly became apparent that the cleanup would take longer than expected.

The Stacks Bookstore Faces the Fallout

On the other side of the building, The Stacks Bookstore felt the impact just as heavily. Juliet Rosner, the lead bookseller, noted that despite the chaos, the Savannah community sprang into action. “There’s only three of us who work here. We knew that we were not going to be able to clean it all up ourselves, so we put out an S.O.S. Call on our social media. And within 10 minutes, more people had shown up than work that needed to be done,” she said, clearly moved by the support they received.

Facing the Damage Together

All three businesses experienced not only physical damage but also a loss of revenue due to being forced to close their doors. Goossen and Hinners both shared that while the community support has been heartening, there remains much work to be done. The reality of how much they all stand to lose is daunting, but everyone is focused on bouncing back.

Even with the challenges at hand, the spirit of each business owner shines through. “I wake up every morning at 6 a.m., and I head down to my store and just try to be as vibrant and as happy as I possibly can be, even in the light of everything that’s really negatively impacting us,” Goossen said, showing her determination to recover from the ordeal.

How You Can Help

While they’re working diligently to get their operations back to normal, there are ways community members can lend a hand. Both The Stacks Bookstore and Cast & Grey have set up online sales to keep generating income until they can reopen their physical locations. Meanwhile, Goodfortune Market is urging people to come in and buy fresh produce before it goes bad. “We’re open and ready for customers, and every little bit of support helps us immensely,” Goossen encouraged.

A Strong Community Spirit

The situation in Savannah emphasizes the importance of community support during tough times. The owners of these businesses are hopeful that, with the help of local patrons, they will overcome this setback and continue to serve the community they love. “We’re all in this together,” Rosner added, a sentiment that resonates deeply in times of adversity.

As these shops work to recover from the flooding, visiting or purchasing from them online is a fantastic way to show your support. These local venues are more than just stores; they are integral parts of the Savannah fabric, and with community backing, they’ll surely flourish once again.