A dinner benefit was held recently at the La Dolce Casa Restaurant in Tamaqua for the Griffiths family, which was hit with tragedy during a flash flood in Pittsburgh.

Tamaqua native Kimberly (Mateyak) Griffith, 45, of Plum, Allegheny County, and her daughters Brenna Griffith, 12, and Mikaela Griffith, 8, died in August when their minivan became submerged in water so deep that would-be rescuers floating in a boat directly above it didn't know it was there.The benefit, which included food, drinks, speakers and singers, was organized and held courtesy of restaurant owner Alfonso Picone, who donated all proceeds from the dinner to the family.