By Emily Dusel, Resident and Executive Director of the Lyons Community Foundation
Imagine waking to emergency sirens blaring “flood is imminent, seek higher ground immediately.” Imagine gathering your loved ones and running out of your home, in your pajamas, with no shoes on. Imagine sleeping in the local elementary school gym. Imagine never being able to live in your home again.
For hundreds of our neighbors in Lyons, this story is all too true. Thanks to your generosity, these families can hold on to hope. Thanks to you, they have the strength and resources to begin rebuilding.
Just after receiving their grant money, one grateful family wrote, “Thank you so very much for the $5,000 grant. We lost much yet found a world of kind people willing to help us at a time when we felt so alone. Our house is still full of frozen mud and will be until spring. No work can be done until it thaws. Our disabled daughter will have a bed, dresser, chest, bedding and other replacement items that she lost thanks to the grant. It is greatly appreciated. God bless you all.”
Six months post flood, many critical needs persist in Lyons including a dire gap in affordable housing and parks that are not safe for children. Although daunting, our community is determined to care for our neighbors, restore our parks and rivers, and rebuild affordable housing. Post flood recovery efforts are underway and need your support.
Thank you for extending yourself in kindness and grace to the people of Lyons in our time of great need.
