Holmes County shows gratitude by hosting a Father's Day picnic for utility workers

Kevin Lynch, The Daily Record
·4 min read
A sign at the end of the table shares a message of thanks to the utility workers in Holmes County. The workers were treated to a picnic.
A sign at the end of the table shares a message of thanks to the utility workers in Holmes County. The workers were treated to a picnic.

MILLERSBURG - Visiting electric utility workers, linemen and tree trimmers from across the state and beyond were treated to an impromptu Father's Day picnic by several Holmes County businesses, churches, community organizations and individuals who simply wanted to show their gratitude for the countless hours the workers from across the state and beyond have put in to get power restored in the area.

Damage: Storm damage in Wayne and Holmes Counties

"In all my years doing this job, I've never seen anything like this," said Andy Howell of New River Electric out of Columbus. "This is so nice what all these people have done. It's truly amazing. And really appreciated."

New River Electrical workers and other visiting utility crews enjoyed Holmes County hospitality Sunday at a picnic to thank the utility workers for their efforts this past week.
New River Electrical workers and other visiting utility crews enjoyed Holmes County hospitality Sunday at a picnic to thank the utility workers for their efforts this past week.

Howell's sentiments were shared by many of his colleagues who came to the Millersburg Subway parking lot on South Washington Street on Sunday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. to partake in the food and fellowship that featured grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, pizza, salads and snacks, water, cold drinks and ice cream, donated by businesses throughout the area and served up by volunteers from all walks of life.

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Dave Schlabach and his wife Miriam of Millersburg were among the many people who helped out. Schlabach manned one of the grills while Miriam helped serve.

Dave Schlabach and Kevin Lint were busy on the grill Sunday night serving up hamburgers to visiting utility workers stuck in the area away from their families on Father's Day.
Dave Schlabach and Kevin Lint were busy on the grill Sunday night serving up hamburgers to visiting utility workers stuck in the area away from their families on Father's Day.

"We just wanted to help out to show our appreciation for the hard work these people have done this past week," Schlabach said.

The idea was spawned by Subway manager Pam Johnson, who served many of the visiting workers this week who were staying in neighboring hotels and talked about being away from their families on Father's Day.

Johnson talked to one of her friends, who notified some other friends on social media and within a few hours they had food enough to feed an army and a number of volunteers to help prepare and serve all the food.

Millersburg Mayor Jeff Huebner: 'It just shows what a special place Holmes County is'

Millersburg Mayor Jeff Huebner commended the way the community came together to show their gratitude for the work utility folks had done throughout the week.

"It just shows what a special place Holmes County is," Huebner said.

Free food and fellowship, a thank you from the Holmes County community to the hundreds of utility workers who helped restore power to the area.
Free food and fellowship, a thank you from the Holmes County community to the hundreds of utility workers who helped restore power to the area.

A crew of tree trimmers from Asplundh out of the Newark-Heath area were amazed at the special feast prepared for them.

"This is great. I can't believe what all these people are doing," one trimmer said.

Another pointed out that it was "freakin' crazy. Some of these people who are here helping don't even have their power on yet."

Tommy Dennis, a New River Electric foreman, said some of the guys got Father's Day cupcakes delivered at the hotel Sunday morning.

"This really made our week," Dennis said. "A lot of these guys are away from their families and really missing them, and the people here have been so gracious and grateful. It's pretty special. This kind of stuff doesn't happen every day."

An AEP crew from the Upper Sandusky-Bucyrus area thanked all the people who provided the meal for them Sunday night.

"This is really nice. I've never seen anything like this. We really like this," one utility worker said. "We weren't hit as bad in our area. We got all our stuff put up and came down here to help."

Numerous donors and volunteers

Skyview Ranch, a Holmes County camp on Township Road 319 that was hit particularly hard by the storm, was one of the organizations that provided drinks, along with a skid of water that was donated by Kaufman Realty.

Grace Church provided tables and chairs, while the Millersburg Eagles 2418 made a cash donation that purchased baked beans and macaroni salad and other picnic treats.

Fox's Pizza Den and East of Chicago Pizza provided pizza, Doughty Valley Meats gave hamburgers, Rodhe's IGA gave hot dogs and buns, Harvey's Market donated fresh fruit, Lint Racing provided chips and other snacks and Brenda and Tyrone Simpson provided plates and tableware. Miller's Creamery donated ice cream and several churches donated other dessert treats.

Donations of drinks and snacks from Janet Hartman Mossor and Brett Gallion, as well as volunteers from Park National Bank and Killbuck Savings Bank, along with other community and church organizations helped make the impromptu picnic a huge success.

— Reach Kevin Lynch at 234-249-5294 or klynch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Father's Day picnic for utility workers takes place in Holmes County