The Flood.

I live in Illinois, about 2 hours from Chicago. After a record rainfall last week, our town was flooded and the town that I grew up in, 20 minutes away, was devastated by the flooding. Our basement flooded, but luckily it's not a finished basement. I have family that lost EVERYTHING. Flooded up to the roof, in my uncle's home. And so much more. Over 1500 residents lost their homes.

You can see my uncle's house in the mid- left hand side. It's basically the last house before it's just all water. So, needless to say, we've been pretty busy around here.
My best friend Jenny and I did some donating to the towns Lions Club, that was organizing cleaning kits and toiletries and clothing etc. for displaced families. Jenny is a couponer, so she had bags full of unopened razors, toothbrushes, deodorant etc. that she donated and I stocked up on .89c suave shampoos and body washes. Buying the cheap stuff allowed me to spend more and hopefully provide for more people. 30 bottles later, I hope the poor people needing the items felt a little better after a hot shower! I just can't imagine. My fathers friends were going around town and pumping water out of basements and 1st floor homes etc.

It's so nice to see community come together. Of course it is horrible when it's a necessity due to loss and circumstances, but it is just so amazing to see the human spirit in action.