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BEMIDJI 鈥� When the last major storm hit Bemidji on July 2, 2012, Mychal Stittsworth was on the receiving end of help.

His Stittworth鈥檚 Nymore Food Mart was damaged so badly that it had to be shut down. Friends, family, neighbors and strangers showed up to offer help.

鈥淲e were kind of lucky this time, but we got crushed by that 2012 storm,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淪o we were on the other end of things.鈥�

It was a different story this past weekend after an even more devastating storm hit the Bemidji area. Stittsworth鈥檚 home north of town, his meat market on Paul Bunyan Drive, and his processing plant in Turtle River all escaped damage.

So he found himself grilling hamburgers on Saturday.

It all started when Denae Alamano, United Way of the Bemidji Area鈥檚 executive director, received a phone call from Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. The hospital did not have power, and asked if Alamano could mobilize some people to grill food for staff and patients.

She thought of Stittsworth right away. He鈥檚 a former United Way board member. Then she thought of Jason Rylander, a current board member.

鈥淪tittsworth鈥檚 is an easy place to think about,鈥� Alamano said. 鈥淎nd knowing Jason鈥檚 capacity, I thought he would be a good person to call.鈥�

A couple of hours later, Stittsworth and Rylander had spatulas in hand, and lunch was served.

鈥淭he (hospital鈥檚) food service person just kept bringing us burgers and we just kept frying them,鈥� said Rylander, whose day job is general manager at Bernick鈥檚 of Bemidji, a beer distribution and beverage supplier. 鈥淓verybody was very thankful to get a quick lunch. It just seems like there were so many things like this, with people helping others.

"As bad as the situation was, it was pretty dang awesome to see the community just come together and help each other out. I've never seen anything like this in any community.鈥�

Stittworth was helping a relative in town when he got the call from Alamano. He had done all he could do at that home, so he headed for the hospital.

鈥淚 thought I could be of better use there,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey were appreciative of us cooking for them, but the thing that was eye-opening for everyone is how quickly the whole town kind of came together.鈥�

Dr. Daniel Hoody, chief medical officer and chief physician at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, noted his gratitude.

鈥淲e are very appreciative of any support we get from the community when our care teams rise to the challenge of these crises such as the weather event this past weekend,鈥� he said.

When the pair was finished at Sanford Bemidji, Stittsworth went to his meat market and started making hamburger patties for the workers at Beltrami Electric Cooperative, who were busy trying to restore power to their members. He donated burgers and bratwurst for them to cook for their workers.

Rylander did not stop after the grill was turned off, either. His company donated water to Evergreen Youth and Family Services, where a family made meals through a United Way connection.

Meanwhile, United Way has added a disaster recovery page to its website, available at where people can donate or find opportunities to volunteer.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation got things started with a $15,000 donation to the site and contributed another $15,000 to NMF鈥檚 own Northwest Minnesota Emergency Disaster Recovery Fund, which will support response and recovery in communities throughout the region.

鈥淥ur hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating storm in Bemidji. In moments like these, the strength of our community shines through,鈥� NMF President and CEO Karen White said in a release. 鈥淲e are deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of emergency responders, volunteers, and local leaders who have stepped up to help their neighbors. We鈥檙e proud to stand alongside the United Way and support its vital work as we begin the journey of recovery together.鈥�

Alamano said 100% of the funds raised for the United Way's disaster recovery efforts will stay in the Bemidji community.

鈥淲e're talking to our partner agencies and assessing what the needs are to fully define what those funds are all going to go toward,鈥� she said. 鈥淲herever the gap is, we're trying to help fill it.鈥�