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As your local newspaper, it is our duty to cover whatever happens in our community – whether the news is good, bad or indifferent.

When tornadoes tore through Bertie and Hertford counties on April 16, it was the duty of our reporters to take photos and cover the story. It wasn’t a pleasant task, but it is part of being the daily record of our community.

However, it seems that out of everything bad, something good comes.

That good story came Tuesday when students, staff and parents from Forsyth County made the long trek to Bertie County. They brought with them a check for more than $4,000 to aid the victims of the tornado.

Ken Winfrey, the President of the North Forsyth High School Athletic Booster Club, was the catalyst for the decision. He talked to members of his own club and those at other Forsyth County schools to help raise money for people in Bertie County.

It was an incredible day to see people from half way across North Carolina to try to help those in need here in the Roanoke-Chowan region. They collected money and did more than send it – they hand-delivered it.

The people from Forsyth County listened intently as they heard stories of the scary moments in which people lost their lives, their homes and everything they owned.

People from far away cared. They cared enough to do more than feel bad. They cared enough to do something.

Bertie High School Principal G. Fisher Mitchell said it best.

“We didn’t know we had friends from so far away.”

– The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald