We understand it’s been a tedious, frustrating and often scary past several days for many of our customers. 

That’s why we set up special events around the state this weekend for those customers to grab breakfast or lunch and if nothing else, escape for a few hours with loved ones and friends. 

In Grand Ledge, there was a line 40 deep at times at the A&W Restaurant Sunday afternoon. A free lunch was offered to families devastated by a vicious storm that hit last week. Trees draped on power lines and tree debris in the middle of the roads leading into Grand Ledge were stark reminders of the up to 90 mile per hour winds that slammed the region.

Other Sunday events – a free lunch at Grass Lake and a free breakfast for the Manchester communities – were opportunities for their residents to take a break from life without electricity at home. 

The west side of Michigan was impacted by Thursday’s storms too; an EF-1 tornado left an 8.9-mile-long path of destruction to Alpine Township, just north of Grand Rapids. We partnered

Fernando Torres, who has lived in Grand Rapids for 22 years, said he thought it was great that we supported communities, including Grand Ledge and others around Michigan, in their critical time of need. 

“It’s awesome, just awesome,” he said. “It’s nice that they recognized people going through a rough time. We are all in this together. You don’t realize how much you rely on something until you lose it.” 

Torres, without power for a few days, said he appreciated the efforts to get his power restored.  

“I understand we have to sacrifice and be patient so they can get our power restored safely,” he said. “I don’t want anyone risking injury or their lives to restore my power. If it takes a few days, it takes a few days.” 

He said he knew what he was going to do after getting a free meal at A&W for this family: help his neighbor clean up his property. 

“Once you are safe, secure and everything is cleaned up on your property, you have the time, go help your neighbor,” he said. “You never know when you are going to need somebody else’s help down the road.”