On Christmas Eve, Dwight Berry of Brundidge read in a newspaper article that a family in the Banks community had lost its home to fire the afternoon before.

“The article said the Lewis’ family’s house had already been vandalized and now it had been destroyed by the fire,” Berry said. “That was a sad situation.”

Later, Berry was watching the news on television when he heard a second account of the house fire.

“While I was sitting there listening, the Lord laid it on my heart to do something to help the family that had lost so much,” Berry said. “The Lord spoke to my heart and said that it is our place to help people when they are in trouble, to love people and care for our neighbors. The Lord was speaking right to me. I knew something had to be done to help those people.”

Berry said all he knew about the Lewis family was what he had read and heard.

Jerry and Amy Lewis had just paid off their house on Highway 223. Their house had been vandalized the week before the fire so they, their son, daughter and grandson were staying with family when the fire occurred.

The Lewises had no insurance on the house because their insurance was added into the house payment. When the house was paid off the insurance was dropped.

“The Lord kept putting it on my heart to do something to help those people,” Berry said.

After a lot of thought and prayer, Berry decided to hold a benefit singing for the Lewis family complete with an auction and a bake sale.

“I believe there are a lot of people that would like to help this family get back on their feet,” he said. “I don’t know the people and haven’t talked to them but I hope they will accept what we do out of love for our neighbors.”

Berry said no time or place has been set for the benefit singing.

“The place won’t be a problem,” he said. “We’ve just got to decide on the best time and get everything together. I’ve already got a commitment from a couple of gospel groups and volunteers to bake cakes for the auction. What I want to do now is give people a chance to get involved and make this happen.

“Gospel singing groups are invited and we need baked items and items for the auction. Anything and everything will be appreciated.

Berry said anyone who would like to be a part of the benefit for the Lewis family may call 334-648-9717 or 334-670-8725 or 334-735-3896.