The entire community comes together in this disaster
The sleepy river town of Lambertville was a target for the wrath of Hurricane Ida. Flash flooding and overflowing creeks destroyed local businesses and left many residents homeless. The town is still recovering from the State of Emergency. Through all its recent hardship, the LGBTQ business community came together to help those in need.
Craig Andrews, owner of La Chocolate Box at 39 North Union Street will be donating chocolates to the Music Mountain Theater for a benefit they are having to support victims of the flooding and other benefits being planned. He said his partner donated his truck in the aftermath of the flooding. Together they drove around Lambertville and offered to help lift and remove the neighbor’s furniture.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Doors down at 23 North Union Street, Under the Moon Cafe, owned by Santiago Orosco, joined in helping the community. The day after the flooding, they ordered pallets of water to be given out to those in need. The restaurant cooked and served hot meals to the first responders and made sandwiches for those cleaning up the damages. They were able to stay open and give a meal to anyone who stopped in and needed food, water, and shelter.
Union Coffee at 49 North Union, owned by Carolyn Gadbois, was able to open the day after and was a welcome community center for all those to charge their phones and grab a warm coffee. She said she was happy to be there and grateful her shop did not sustain damage.
A long-time mainstay of the LGBTQ community is A Stage in Time Gallery on 9 Lambert Lane. Artist Ramon Robledo and his husband Peter Prorok provide a strong presence in Lambertville’s art community. Their gallery had flooding in the basement and, thankfully, no damage to the gallery.
As the clean-up continues and the community comes together in this disaster, all these merchants remain open for business, uniting in strength for Lambertville.
