PORTLAND, Mich. — Residents in the City of Portland are taking the saying "love thy neighbor" to the next level.
After severe flooding hit the town this week, one local woman decided to lend a helping hand.
"You know, seeing this town and all the people, you know, band together...it's just so cool. It's like taking a step back in time to a simpler time when everyone cared so much about each other," Kayla Powell said.
Powell owns her own photography business called Prohibition and Pearls. She says when the flooding hit her beloved town, she wanted to help those affected in the only way she could: by offering them free photography sessions to replace the photos damaged in the flood.
"I don't have that many gifts, I'm not really handy. I can't go install sump-pumps like some people. So, it's the gift that I have and it's what I wanted to give to the community."
Powell posted her offer in a Facebook group called "Portland #IceJam2019 Recovery," which was created as a way for people who are able to help those affected by the flooding. Powell says that restoring pictures can be important to a lot of people.
"You know, it's really meaningful for people when they lose things to kind of be able to get those memories back so it's just a good way to be a part of the community and give my gift," she said.
Powell says it's heartwarming to see people of the community help one another, and she hopes more people will see her offer and take her up on it.
"It's just always been a big forefront of myself and my business to just kind of give back, you know? I wouldn't be anything without the people here supporting me. You know, the community that I am in and everything they have given to me...it's the only way I knew how to give back."
If you had photos damaged in the flood and are interested in a session, you can visit her website at www.prohibitionandpearls.com and click on the "contact me" tab.
