Derecho
That weather word was new to me. But in one hour on one day this summer I learned first-hand what it was. And the horrific damage is still being felt here in Iowa.
The Oxford Dictionary definition is this. “A Derecho is a line of intense, widespread, and fast-moving windstorms and sometimes thunderstorms that moves across a great distance and is characterized by damaging winds.”
That definition is spot-on, and we certainly did experience Mother Nature’s wrath. I’ve already shared some of the details with you in my previous post. (Read it HERE.)
We were personally spared from serious damage here at our home, although some parts of Iowa City suffered significant wind damage.
But our neighbors to the North in Cedar Rapids were hit VERY hard. Huge trees were literally sucked out of the ground! Many landed on homes and tore down electrical wires and cables. (And even now in October the damage is still causing pain and suffering for Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities.)
Check out this drone view. These homeowners were so lucky that the huge tree fell where it did, and not on their house!
After our power was restored here in Iowa City I began to wonder what I could do to help the nearby victims who faced such distruction. The damn pandemic is keeping me at home, so I couldn’t volunteer in person to clean up debris or cook for folks with no power. (Some folks in the area are STILL without internet and cable services.)
Katy To The Rescue!
My able bodied friend Katy was quick to assess the need in Cedar Rapids and she put out a Facebook request for some of the most pressing needed items. So I went through our pantry and discovered several bags of hotel size bottles of shampoo and soaps I had been collecting from our many travels. I had been saving them to eventually donate somewhere. And this was the perfect place!
As I drove to Katy’s house to drop off those toiletries it felt SO GOOD to do SOMETHING! And I didn’t want that good feeling to end. I decided to reach out to the Dear Readers of my blog to get involved to do more. And my readers and friends stepped up BIG TIME….and more than once.
Let’s Fill Up The Pickup!
Soon after the Derecho struck, Katy volunteered to work with the Zach Johnson Foundation to set up a feeding station and donations distribution center outside an elementary school in Cedar Rapids. That area was very hard hit, and everyone in that neighborhood was without electricity. They were also nearly buried in downed trees and debris.
When Katy arrived on the scene she quickly took stock of the most needed items and she forwarded that list to me. I shared that list to my Meemaw Eats Facebook page, (Please follow me there.)
Katy said baked goods had been requested, so I headed to the kitchen. FINALLY…something I could do from home!
Later I’ll share the recipe for these FOUR INGREDIENT bars that are fast to make and were easy to transport. (I think I made five batches that day.)
Within hours of posting my plea for help the donations began to roll in.
Donations Arrive
Marcia dropped off cleaning supplies and Becki dropped off personal items. And she also headed to HER kitchen and whipped up this HUGE box of yummy looking muffins.
Her sweet grandkids helped her make them, and they got a big lesson on helping those in need.
It wasn’t long before Sue rolled in with more than she could carry. Those donations were beginning to pile up in our garage! It was a beautiful sight.
Pam called her friend Loretta Angerer to help. And the two of them went on a shopping spree to Staples! (Pam had noticed school supplies and children’s items were much needed items on the list.)
Pam arrived with her trunk completely full of school supplies and other essentials to donate!
Next to arrive was Judy. And I helped her unload her large boxes of fabulous donations.
As the afternoon turned to evening we were visited by Denny and Mary. And they certainly didn’t arrive empty handed either!
And that’s when Peepaw realized we could head to Cedar Rapids the next day with a FULL pickup of donations to share with that neighborhood so in need of help!
Derecho Donations = A Pickup FULL!
The next morning Peepaw packed every last box and bag into the truck. We grabbed our masks and off we went. I won’t post photos of the downed trees and damaged buildings. Those can be seen on many other sites. But the power of that derecho was obvious everywhere we looked.
The boarded up storefronts were proof that the derecho winds were strong enough to break windows all over the city.
Donations Delivered…And Appreciated!
As we arrived at our destination the waiting volunteers actually began to clap and cheer! It was so gratifying to know that they had been waiting and hoping for our precious cargo. (Katy had told them we were on our way.)
Our dear friend Andy was waiting for us there. That sweet guy came to help Peepaw and the others unload the donations and to help in any way he could.
He’s an elementary school teacher and he’s been a family friend ever since he was in high school with our sons. He’s also the author of several wonderful children’s books. ( Stormin’ Norman: The Soggy Doggy and Stormin’ Norman: The Bark In The Park) Read all about Andy’s true life story with his furry best friend Norman right HERE.
All the volunteers made short work of unloading Peepaw’s pickup, and the donations were arranged on the ground for anyone in need. (That grassy area was named The Pantry.)
Katy made sure everyone felt welcome to anything they needed, including the hot meal that had just arrived.
What an amazing group of volunteers! There were meal and donation sites just like this one spread out all over the city. We saw several more as we drove back to the freeway to head home.
And that’s when my phone began to light up with texts and messages from many more of my Dear Readers and friends. So many folks wished they had seen my request for donations and they asked if there was a chance we would do another one. I could barely keep up with the messages as we drove back home.
I looked at Peepaw and he looked at me. And I KNEW what my answer would be.
Helping others is a “Feel Good” feeling. Especially THESE days.
So stay tuned for Round Two of our derecho donation adventures!
Great work!
Thanks Kasey!
XOXO
Meemaw