I took a drive this morning through downtown....the flags were flying but no one was around. You did see people working BUT shouldn't there be a parade and other festivities going on, I thought. Then I went down Ellis Blvd. and it was like a ghost town, there were people here and there working on their homes....that's when it hit me that I needed to do something today. I called Brian, then my parents and told them my idea. We pooled some money together, bought 6 $25 gift cards to Hy-Vee and my Mom and I went and handed them out randomly to people in the TimeCheck area, that we saw working.
The first house we walked up to, there was an older lady with a 4th of July shirt on, rubber gloves on, and a mask. I said " This isn't much but my Mom and I wanted to make your 4th of July a little brighter with this gift card to HyVee". She was speechless, then she was crying, Mom was crying....her daughters were so thankful....they gave us hugs....and said this gesture meant more than anything to date, strangers affiliated with no one just giving me this means so much.
The last house we stopped at the lady invited me in to see the inside of the house. I was leary, at first, but I went in. I lost it....there aren't words to describe what I saw. It is every worldly possession this woman owned, from framed pictures of her family, to a collection of Barbie dolls soaked in filth and grime. She isn't as fortunate, as some, because she doesn't have anyone to help gut her house but she does have insurance which will help her, along with what she gets from FEMA. She had to take 3 weeks, unpaid, from her job at Whirlpool, so that is taxing her too. The curb separates her from the 100 year and 500 year flood plan, so she will not get a buy out. Her neighbor has already received his FEMA check, for a mere $28,000, which is the base amount to get your house to be livable, what ever that means. When he called to find out why that is all he received, that is what he was told....he said they don't even take in to consideration drywall, plumbing costs, electrical. Well, how is a house livable if you don't have those things I asked him. He told me to call FEMA, and be happy this isn't me. These are people who have lost EVERYTHING, who don't have an extra $50,ooo hanging around for a remodel. Then FEMA tells him they do have low interests loans available.
The lady gave me her name and phone number. I told Mom, I would like to keep in touch with her to see how things turn out. Also, I would like her to be our adopted flood friend, who we check up on, to make sure she is getting the help she needs or continue to do random acts of kindness for her.
I could give you stories of all 6 people we encountered and gave a card to, that are almost identical to the first one. Tears just flowed, hugs were given, I can still see the smiles on their faces.....it was better than any fireworks that I will ever see.
Once you choose hope, anything's possible.
Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
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