(UPDATE) Big Hearts, Small Turnout at Flood Victim Fundraiser

Update: 9/19 1:30 p.m.

The turnout for the fundraiser picked up later in the afternoon, according to Ellicott Mills Brewing Co. owner Tim Kendzierski. "We raised over a grand, not to mention furniture and electronics pledged to the victims."

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Original story:

Many businesses and families alike are still recovering from recent . Tim Kendzierski, manager at , was lucky enough to have neighbors help with cleaning. 

“Because of the response we got, because our customers gave back, we decided to give back,” Kendzierski said. 

Kendzierski worked with several other area businesses Sunday afternoon to host “Neighbors helping Neighbors,” a crab soup cook-off to raise money for some residents and business owners affected by the flood waters.

Proceeds from the event will go to Joe and Bill Parr, brothers who own and operate Historic Framing and collectibles, and to Kelly Zimmerman and Scott O’Toole, residents of Ellicott City who lost a majority of their possessions in the floods.

“Our building was damaged and 70 percent of our inventory was destroyed because of humidity,” said Joe Parr. With no utilities working in his building, mold destroyed frames and antique prints overnight. 

He expects it to take at least a month and $20,000 to reopen his business.

The brewery typically hosts three or four cook-offs a year for charity, according to Jeni Porter, who owns and who helped Kendzierski organize the cook-off. 

“This one came at the right time, when the flood happened," Porter said.

However, another calamity struck Main Street Sunday afternoon; a truck hauling liquid manure sprung a leak, dripping its contents along the road. Officials closed Main Street as they cleaned up the mess, and many of the people who signed up to attend the cook-off had trouble making it.

Adding to the problems, the truck cleaning up the mess broke down near the front of Wind River, according to Porter.

“It seems like one disaster after another,” she said.

Regardless, Kendzierski and the other organizers said they hope to raise a couple thousand dollars to help neighbors. 

Money is being raised through a raffle for an electric guitar, gift certificates to Wind River and Ooh La Lal, a hefty gift basket from the Wine Bin as well as merchandise from Clipper City Brewing Co.

In addition, $1 from every beer sold Sunday at Ellicott City Brewing Co. will be added to the funds. The brewers have created a Muddy Water Brew after the floods, and throughout the rest of September, $1 of each sale of this beer will also be added to the funds.