MIDLAND, Michigan (WNEM) – A Midland small business owner needed the community’s help after severe weather rolled through on Tuesday, August 27.

After a power outage, Boomerang Coffee Lounge was at risk of losing thousands of dollars worth of inventory. As the business’s co-owners discovered, the power of social media can actually make a difference.

“Thank you so much. The support has been overwhelming and in the best possible way,” said Maegan Nowak, co-owner of Boomerang Coffee Lounge in Midland.

She said the storms left her without power on Tuesday afternoon and she asked for help on social media to save her supplies, which needed to be refrigerated.

Gordon Food Service came to the rescue.

“They came all the way with a refrigerated truck, helped us load it and took care of it. We offered to help unload it and they just said, ‘No, we’ll take care of it,'” Nowak said.

She said her company could have lost thousands of dollars worth of inventory.

“We had just gotten a delivery the day before and we thought, ‘Oh, great.’ But yeah, we’re just staying positive and so grateful to the community,” she said.

Lee Ireland, store manager at Gordon Food Service, said he was happy to help.

“It felt pretty good, I think, just doing what we were supposed to do in a situation like that,” he said.

Ensuring that Mother Nature does not diminish a small business’s bottom line.

“We have the resources and skills to help the people around us, and it was just a really great experience to be able to go there and take care of them,” Ireland said.

Nowak said she doesn’t know exactly when the power will be back on, but when it does, she wants to thank everyone who is willing to help.

“As soon as we reopen, be it tomorrow or Friday, we will be offering 15% off all drinks on our menu as a thank you to the community,” she said.

A Consumers Energy spokesman said power should be restored to most customers by Thursday evening.

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