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Wednesday, October 20,2021
dawsonnews.com I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I 5A
Community rallies around father needing lung transplant
Julia Fechter Dawson County News
Many people have recently purchased this "Rally
for Rodney" sign to support Rodney Castleberry,
who is in need of a double-lung transplant.
Julia Fechter
jfechter@dawsonnews.com
Have you noticed the
“Rally for Rodney” signs
popping up all around
Dawsonville?
One campaign has
quickly gained steam, with
signs popping up on home
and business roadsides
locally and beyond, all to
help one Dawson County
husband and father.
After years of giving to
others in the area through
prayer and other resources,
Rodney Castleberry and
his family are now seeing
that same generosity as
they raise funds for his
double-lung transplant.
After contracting
COVID-19, Rodney beat
the disease but ended up
needing this particular pro
cedure due to the damage
the disease did to his lungs.
With such a procedure
come numerous costs. A
team of volunteers came
together about three weeks
ago to start selling and
delivering the signs. Both
sides of each sign say
“Rally for Rodney” and
the Bible verse, Matthew
19:26: “With men this is
impossible, but with GOD
all things are possible.”
Rodney’s friends created
a Facebook group called,
“Rally for Rodney” to help
spread the word about the
signs and provide updates
on him.
His home church,
Bethel Baptist Church,
will host a cruise-in to
benefit him and his family
on Saturday, Nov. 13,
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will also be a cake
walk, food and a silent
auction, as well as other
opportunities for fellow
ship. A special prayer for
the Castleberrys will be
held at noon.
Vice President James
Bearden of Bearden
Funeral Home recently
posted to the Facebook
group encouraging others
to support the
Castleberrys. Rodney
works at the Dawsonville
business.
“Rodney is a farmer and
as simple, humble, and
genuine as they come. He
Always puts everyone else
ahead of himself,”
Bearden wrote, mention
ing his employee’s selfless
work ethic.
Rodney serves as a dea
con at Bethel Baptist
Church. He and his wife,
Jessica, lead youth Sunday
School and the youth
choir together. She also
serves as a paraprofession-
al at Robinson Elementary
School.
Bearden added that the
Castleberry family have
“truly been a pillar for this
community.”
“He and his family
would never ask anyone
for anything. They have
only asked for our prayers,
but we know that this
journey is not going to be
short or easy,” he said.
“Being out of work, medi
cal bills and travel have
their challenges, too.”
Currently, Rodney is at
Emory University
Hospital in Atlanta as he
undertakes various thera
pies and works to meet the
transplant criteria.
His family have asked
for continual prayers for
Rodney’s strength and
healing.
“This journey is going
to be another way for God
to use Rodney and his tes
timony for His glory,”
Bearden added, quoting
the same verse printed on
the signs, Matthew 19:26.
“The community has
been overwhelming in
wanting to support him
and his family, so every
thing we’ve done is to
come up with ways to
help,” said Josh Wilkins,
one of the Castleberry
family’s neighbors.
Indeed, over 750 “Rally
for Rodney” signs have
been sold so far to people
in seven different coun
ties, both in Georgia and
in Florida.
Wilkins called it a “true
blessing” to be able to ride
around the community
and see so many of the
signs.
“Not only does this
show the power of stead
fast prayer, it shows this
faith-based community
that God is still at work,
and [that] we stand with
each other in times of
need,” Wilkins said. “It’s
just amazing to see the
community provide sup
port when people need it
most.”
Locals line up to support Ruby's Recipes
as owner recovers from COVID-19
Julia Fechter
jfechter@dawsonnews.com
From pizza and pasta to sandwiches
and more, the medley of dishes at
Ruby’s Recipes have become a staple
for customers craving the comfort of
fresh, take-home foods.
Now, pasta has made an even bigger
difference for the local Italian restau
rant.
Friends hosted a spaghetti fundraiser
this past Sunday evening, Oct. 17, to
support the family of Ruby’s Recipes
chef Allen Cerinetti.
He took time off from the restaurant
over the past several weeks after con
tracting respiratory illnesses and subse
quently COVID-19. The restaurant has
been closed much of that time, so the
family has had no other income, said
their friend and marketing volunteer
Jan Kelley.
Though recovered, Allen is still deal
ing with lasting complications from the
illness. Through this, Allen felt well
enough to come and help during the
event. Overall, almost 275 spaghetti
plates were sold, or over $3,000 worth
of food.
Many people heard about the fund
raiser by word of mouth, such as at
church earlier that day. Some came just
to donate.
“Praise God! Dawsonville is amaz
ing,” said Allen’s wife, Julia, during the
event.
Ruby’s Recipes is located at 462
Memory Lane, Ste. 170 in Dawsonville.
Fifteen months ago, Allen and Julia
opened the restaurant, named in honor
of his mother. Ever since then, they’ve
dealt with the challenges of running a
restaurant during a pandemic and done
well with local support, Kelley said.
Faith has guided the small, family-
run business during this time.
“Allen’s done a lot for the communi
ty,” Kelley said. “If you’re hungry and
you show up, he’s going to feed you.”
An earlier post reiterated the family’s
thankfulness for the outpouring of love
and support they’ve received so far.
“He loves Dawsonville and the peo
ple of Dawsonville and being a part of
this community,” Kelley added.
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