These days when you can't count on the powers that be to keep the power on, it’s important to figure out who you can count on.

In the days following last weekend’s freak October snowstorm and the resulting widespread power outages, I had the opportunity to think a lot about where we find community in our darkest moments—especially with so many people literally in the dark.

We’ve witnessed much community support across Fairfield County since the storm. “Powered up” people opened up their homes to friends and relatives without power for showers, food and refuge from the cold. Volunteers staffing community emergency relief efforts turned out to distribute meals and water, and to check on senior citizens. And organizations like community centers, churches, synagogues and YMCAs opened their doors as warming centers and shelters.

But it’s not just in the days after disasters when community can provide healing support. The week before the storm hit, I was witness to an amazing display on many levels of community coming together to help others.

Christina Wasil, is an instructor at Hello Yoga, a new yoga studio that just opened in Wilton. She pitched an idea to the studio’s owner, Annie Clark. She wanted to hold two special classes—one as a fundraiser for CT Challenge, an organization that supports cancer survivorship programs throughout Connecticut, and a second class for current breast cancer patients and survivors.

Wasil’s motivation grew out of her own personal experience.

“My grandmother had cancer, I had a boss with breast cancer.  Yoga is so good for people in general, but for people with cancer yoga brings another dimension to their lives and their recovery. The whole beautiful thing about yoga is that it can create a community. What I saw spring up around my grandmother was a community of survivors really supporting each other and it’s similar to what people find in yoga—supportive, loving, very generous people.”

For the fundraiser class, Wasil donated her teaching time and while Hello Yoga officially made it a free, open class, they asked anyone who took part in it to make voluntary donations for CT Challenge.

But no one expected the domino effect of good will that the class set off. One of Hello Yoga’s regular students, Jess Prevelige, works at Blue Buffalo, a holistic pet food company based in Wilton. She invited Krista Granelli, a co-worker currently battling breast cancer, to take part in the fundraiser class with her.

“I practice a lot of yoga, and I thought it might be helpful for Krista. Originally I thought it might be just her and I, and then we asked a bunch of the other girls and we got a big group to go,” said Prevelige. In all, 12 of their Blue Buffalo co-workers came to rally around Granelli.

Halfway through 12 weeks of chemotherapy, Stamford resident Granelli had surgery in July, and in January will have reconstructive surgery. Taking part in the class was a physical stretch for her but emotionally it did wonders, and her tears started to well up as she talked about having her 12 friends around her for the class.

“Physically, the class was a little challenging because it’s the most activity I’ve had in a while. But emotionally it was just great to look around and know that everyone was here, not necessarily only because of me, but kind of because of me. And to have everyone with me was really…it just feels good.

Finding the support network has been crucial, she said. “The support I’ve gotten has been overwhelming. People have helped pick up the slack on my job because I’m working shorter hours, I’ve had a different person drive me to chemo every week. Between the cards and letters and presents and flowers and dinners, it’s just really… I don’t’ want to say it’s been great, because having cancer certainly hasn’t been great. But all the other parts of it have been uplifting.”

And giving back herself, helping complete the circle by taking part in a community activity to help others offered Granelli something immeasurable.

“I’ve always participated in cancer fundraisers because my sister passed away from cancer. So now to be involved in this, and to know so many other people that actually have cancer right now, it means a lot to be able to help today. We do a walk every year and now I’m the one benefitting from the funds, I see where all the money goes at Stamford Hospital—they fund massage therapy and all kinds of wellness programs, nutritionists and extra activities to combine with your medical therapies—it’s just nice to know my efforts today are helping other people get the things that I’m getting.”

All told, the fundraising class raised $370 that will benefit CT Challenge. One of the things CT Challenge is fundraising for is a new center that will open in Southport and will serve the wider Fairfield County community and beyond. According to the organization’s website, “the Center for Survivorship will offer cancer survivors resources in therapeutic movement and exercise, nutrition, and psychosocial support to help them resume a normal and active life.”

Sounds like a lot of people are finding the light of community support in the darkness.

Hello Yoga’s restorative class for current breast cancer patients, survivors and those supporting someone living with cancer was postponed due to the snowstorm. It will now be held on Nov. 13 at 5:30 pm. Hello Yoga is located at 134 Old Ridgefield Rd., 3^rd Floor, in Wilton.