I hope I’m not overstepping personal privacy bounds here, but I feel compelled to share the highlight of today, day 39, of the “Rebuilding Palmyra” fire relief effort. I’ve mentioned that of the 11 families that lost everything in the May 3 fire, only one was insured. I reached out to that family early on and we did help with some short term emergency needs… a few nights in a motel, and money for a few necessities immediately following the fire. They asked for no more than that, insisting that those who were not insured be served first by what was donated. Now more than 5 weeks after the fire, that family is in a new apartment, partially furnished with the insurance money received (greatly reduced for depreciation). Today I dropped off the cleaning/mop/bucket kits and Rite Aid baskets that are given as “housewarming” gifts to all families, and asked what else we could do. “Just a chair” was the answer, “the window sill is getting uncomfortable”. So off we went to the fire relief “Apartment Department Store” to “shop” for a chair. That person had not been in the building yet, and has been unaware of the enormity of the community response in donating items. Tears flowed as I rolled the bay door aside. They walked the aisles, staring wide-eyed at the long rows of tables, selecting a few things at my insistence. More tears flowed at finding a beautiful ceramic jewelry box, “just like the one that was lost”, more tears as the “perfect” cooking pot was found, and more at the wooden tongs “just like mom used to use”. Ordinary kitchen and household items, given generously by you, have become treasures received, and treasures cherished, not just today, but for many of the fire families you have helped serve. And yes, they even found a chair to take home (and a box of tissues). Thanks again for your kindnesses to your Main St, Palmyra “neighbors”. (Steve M)
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 01:49:52 +0000
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