Wow, it is hard to believe we are just over the one-year-mark since Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc on our pretty little island and community (officially September 6). Different emotions, sweat, and tears go into this anniversary. Even though this day has affected each of the members in the community in a different light, we have all come a long way and it is remarkable to see where we stand today.
This past Saturday, September 5, the Ocracoke Interfaith Relief and Recovery Team (OIRRT) paid tribute to the Dorian anniversary by hosting a benefit concert at the Berkley Barn. The event featured a variety of musical talents, including Barefoot Wade, Nobody Circuit, Toaster Oven, Molasses Creek, Coyote, and Raygun Ruby. In order to comply with the Governor’s mandate, tickets were sold for 45-minute time slots with no more than 35 tickets per time slot allowed. The attendance and support for this event were phenomenal. In addition to ticket sales, over $5,000 in donations were received. These funds will be used by the OIRRT to aid people still in recovery. Following Dorian’s demise September 6th 2019, OIRRT was formed to provide disaster relief to the community and is a certified 501©3. Since its establishment, it has helped residents with fulfilling necessary needs such as lodging, food, bills, etc. The island is grateful for its long-time support and can rest assured it will be a permanent asset for this community for the long-term.
We, as members of Berkley Events, are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from family, friends, strangers, customers, and neighbors. Although the Manor itself took on four feet of water, we find ourselves fortunate compared to the losses of others. As the saying goes, it could have been a lot worse. We are not always vocal through channels such as online, social media, or the community, but our feelings are genuine when we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone. We have come a long way in a year and are happy to have had a full summer season. We look forward to adding to our project list this winter knowing that 2021 will be even better with a full list of events and rentals from spring to fall.
