BELLE — The Belle community came together on Oct. 11 in a show of support for Mike Green during a benefit held at Padgett’s Place. The event was organized to assist Green and his family with medical, rehabilitation and travel expenses following a major health event earlier this year.

In April, Green suffered a stroke that required a stent placement in his neck to restore blood flow and reduce the risk of further complications. His recovery has been ongoing and challenging, but Saturday’s event reflected the strength and compassion of the community that surrounds him.

The benefit featured a car show, food served all day, a fifty-fifty raffle and a live auction led by Joe Sherman. Plates were available for $12, offering a selection of fish with hushpuppies, pulled pork or pork steak, alongside baked beans, mac and cheese, cole slaw or pasta salad.

In a message shared by his wife, Heather Green, he expressed how moved he was by the overwhelming turnout.

“He is happy as heck at the outpouring of the community and the help and support that they have shown,” Heather Green said in her message. “He is overwhelmed by the turnout to show their support at his benefit. He could not say thank you enough. He has a long road ahead and wants everyone to know how much all the help and encouraging words mean to him. This community has really shown what they are all about — love and friendship.”

One event organizer, Heather Drewel, said the day was nothing short of remarkable.

“To say this was such an amazing day is an understatement,” Drewel said. “This is what I love about our small community. Everyone somehow comes together to make this all happen. To witness all the love, support and help throughout this whole thing was simply amazing. It takes an army to do something like this and our army did just that.”

Drewel said putting together a benefit can be emotionally and physically exhausting, but the reward is worth every effort.

“It’s so rewarding and that makes it all worth it,” she said. “I hope this will take some stress off them for a while and that Mike can make a full recovery. Thank you everyone for everything. The day was beautiful and perfect.”

While the exact dollar amount collected hasn’t been released, Drewel said that it was one of the biggest benefits to date that has been held in the Belle area.

The community’s collective effort and generosity served as a testament to the town’s spirit — where compassion and togetherness continue to shine brightest in times of need.