Stories

"JUST GET OVER IT"-- Lois Stoltenberg


    I was recently talking to Jim Truitt and his wife about some of the struggles that have come to our community. Most are related to the floods of 2007 & 2009, and some to the changing economy affecting jobs.
  One of the men I take food to through our "Food Assistance Program", which is totally funded and supplied by volunteer donations, said to me the other night, "this must be hard on you shopping for all of these families". I told him, "No, it is a joy and a privilege!" The hard part, I thought, would be having to call and tell them that there is no money or provisions for food this week!   Some time ago there was a letter to the editor in our local paper that said they were sick and tired of20hearing about the flood and that people just needed to get over it.  I can not think of one family who has been affected by the flood, weakening economy, or both, who would not love to "just get over it!"  
   But how can I tell a 75 year old neighbor flooded in 1996 and 2007 who is afraid to bring her sewing room back downstairs or put up their fence again to "get over it!" How do I tell a 75 year old woman in my church who suffers from congestive heart failure and refused to move back to their flooded property after the County condemned her home "to just get over it."  Or how do I tell  a couple I take food to who lost their home that wasn't paid for, had to bring in a modular house and now are paying two mortgages..."to just get over it." Or how do I tell a single mom employed in the building industry who is now out of work, who only partially got her home restored after the 2007 flood, who has maxed out her resources to just hold on to her home, and whose mortgage is now due with NO income to pay it, "to just get over it." Or how do I tell a middle aged couple to "just get over it" who are trying to pay medical bills because the wife didn't handle the flood very well and had to be hospitalized four times trying to get help to "get over it." The emotional, financial, and physical needs related to the recent floods extends much further out than any of us ever anticipated.  The needs, however,  are just as20real and just as great now as they were at the time of the floods. This is why for me the hardest thing would be to tell these families the "resources" are no longer available to help, whether that is for food, materials to rebuild, or volunteers to help with projects. Last week, on a Wednesday,  I was very depressed when I counted the money donated for food assistance and realized I only had enough for the current week and a little extra to give each family while we were gone on vacation. It looked like the resources were "drying up". I dreaded having to tell the families we could no longer help them.  I prayed on the way to the store, "Please, Lord, I don't think our work is done here yet. There are families who still need the help, and families who don't know You yet and live as if there is no hope. We just have to keep going! We have to keep helping!"  Thursday evening the phone rang and it was the middle aged couple wanting to come talk to us. Praise the Lord!!...they came...they talked...we prayed together, and the wife left with an new found "glow" of hope and love found through faith in Jesus!  All because God's love was made real to them through "food assistance" made possible by the gifts of others wanting to show God's love by compassionate deeds. We are looking forward to meeting with them when we are home from vacation!   I know that God has a plan and I know I have to be patient and let Him work! I know He will provide until His work here is done!  I know that until then, I must live before others in my community as one who "has hope" through my faith in Jesus, and that we as a Christian community together can point others to that Hope through acts of kindness and compassion that demonstrate God's love in a tangible way. Thank you for continuing to be a part of what God is doing in my community through your compassionate gifts and labor. 

 

Example of a home flooded twice, and subsequently elevated.

85 year old great great Aunt in Chehalis caring for 4 teenage relatives via foster care, flooded in 2007. Their home was once again flooded in 2009. They stayed in a motor home on the property due to looters and began the process of recovery once again. Contact with us occured in February 2009 and our advocacy assisted them with securing elevation. Following the elevation, LTRO coordinated crews and funding to complete projects such as repair of sheetrock damaged by the elevation process, flooring, plumbing and electrical needs, as well as helping with the moving-in process. Her last 2 projects before finishing include a kitchen countertop and flooring for 2 small rooms.

 

Example of a single Dad having to pay a mortgage as well as rent on an apartment for over 18 months.

Chehalis single parent contacted us after the 2009 event.  He had been repairing flood damage on his own after the 2007 event, but before it was completed he was re-flooded in 2009. LTRO has been able to work with him regarding projects, many of which he was able to fund and we supplied the volunteers and technical assistance. Currently, we have been assisteing with flooring, and we were able to secure funds for both his carpeting in 4 rooms and installation. The first floor of the house is close to completion, we also re-installed all of his electrical wiring in the house and the plumbing as well. His home will be occupied after additional work in the bathroom and kitchen is completed. The owner has applied for elevation assistance and will elevate if the grant is approved.

 

Example of new construction assistance.

Family with a disabled Father in Doty had their home go wash down the river in the 2007 flood. They were assisted by a volunteer contractor and various other volunteers to construct a new home. Funding ran out near the end of the process, and we were asked to step in to help complete necessary projects so they could gain occupancy and stop paying for housing and the mortgage. We were able to secure funds and skilled volunteers to do these necessary things and the family is now in their home. We were also able to start the outside painting of the house before winbter. Currently, we plan to finish a set of stairs and cement ramp to ensure safe entrance and exit for all members of the family. Funding has been secured for this project and we are just waiting for the skilled volunteers.