The community in Elmvale is coming together to help and support one of its dearly loved residents after she was involved in a devastating crash on March 7.

Heidi Berrang, who is well known for helping others in her community, is currently in Toronto with several serious injuries after the crash. Friends and neighbours say she faces a long recovery, and many people in the community are now stepping up to support her and her family during this difficult time.

For the past 12 years, Heidi Berrang and her family have lived in the village of Elmvale, about 25 minutes northwest of Barrie. She is known in the community for her volunteer work and for always showing up to support community activities. Berrang was seriously injured while driving home from Barrie during heavy fog when a U-Haul truck allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into her van. The crash left Berrang with several serious injuries, including broken bones in her pelvis, tailbone, collarbone, and ribs, as well as a severe concussion and a badly injured tongue.

Berrang’s friends started a GoFundMe campaign to help the family cover lost wages, travel costs to visit her at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, home-care support, and the challenges facing her three children, who are between 12 and 20 years of age. The fundraiser had already raised nearly $22,000 of the targeted $24,000 as friends, neighbours, and community members stepped up to help.

Source: Nikki Cole, Orillia Matters