By Beth Berkenbile
Saturday evening, October 25th, the Community Action Team (CAT) once again proved that when Hennessey comes together, itโs for all the right reasons. This time, the community joined forces to support Susan McCartney with her medical expenses after a serious health crisis earlier this year. Friends, family, and neighbors filled the event with warmth, laughter, and the comforting smell of home-cooked food โ onion burgers, chili dogs, and an impressive lineup of desserts.
Earlier this spring, Susan, 42, suffered a sudden and life-threatening heart attack. On April 3rd, her sister Sally found her collapsed near her car at the end of the workday. Thanks to quick action, skilled medical teams, and a wave of prayers, Susan has been on a steady path toward recovery. It hasnโt been an easy road, but she continues to make remarkable progress with the help and faith of her friends and community.
The nightโs fundraiser brought in an incredible $7,444.00, but the generosity didnโt stop there. Additional donations soon followed, both locally and from out of town, raising the total to an impressive $9,694.00. Contributions have come through local banks and private gifts โ each one a heartfelt reminder of what makes small-town Oklahoma special.
โWe are truly blessed to live in a town like Hennessey,โ one volunteer shared. โPeople here donโt just talk about caring โ they show it.โ
That sentiment echoes a message once shared by former Governor George Nigh, who told Hennessey residents during a 2010 banquet to โkeep our spot on the map specialโ through cooperation, care, and involvement. The CAT fundraiser embodied that very spirit.
The evening not only helped Susan, but also reignited a sense of unity and hope across town. And the giving doesnโt stop there โ two more local fundraisers are already planned for the coming weekend: one for Tommy Bohnstedt at The Concept Center, and another for Forgotten Ministries, founded by Hennessey graduate Jeremiah Herrian.
In Hennessey, caring for one another isnโt just a tradition โ itโs a way of life.
When we work together, great things happen.
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