I live in Germantown Hills / Metamora, IL which is about 6 miles away from Washington,IL. It's basically like a sister city and the communities are very intertwined. They are Metamoras HS football rivals if that helps anybody understand.
I was fortunate that the path didn't come through Germantown, but it did hit Washington hard and Metamora.
My sisters subdivision was completely leveled. By some miracle she lives on the very end street and it was the one street that was outside the end wall scope of this EF4. She has no neighbors now out her backyard. It looks like a nuclear bomb went off.
On top of things, their new home was being built a few miles away in the Devonshire subdivision and the tornado path went through there and completely obliterated it.
Other friends of mine have lost everything they own. It's truly heartbreaking.
I am asking for donations. There are a lot of dissplaced people. Fortunately it happend at church time and a lot of people were gone. Also the sirens worked and everybody hit their basebments. One of the perks of having deep layers of dirt before you hit rock in Illinois.
What we need mainly are small sundries to make kits. Basically the things you would find in the small travel item isle at Walmart: toothpaste,toothbrushes,soap,shampoo,deoderant,bab y bottles,baby spoons,diapers,sippy cups,instant mashed potatoes,instant mac & cheese,wash clothes,towels,shaving razors
What they don't need: Bulky items like blankets,coats,clothes. We are 5 minutes away from Peoria. There are enough resources to make sure people are clothed and sheltered. These take up storage space and are difficult to manage. People are not walking around naked,cold, and out on the street homeless is my point.
Personal Donations can be sent to
Crossroads United Methodist Church
Attn: Tornado Relief
1420 N Main St
Washington, IL 61571
Crossroads sits right infront of the Devonshire subdivision that was wiped out. It's a very large church and as far as churches go...they are pretty good. It's my sisters church. I'm not much of a religious person...but I don't mind that place...they are pretty modern. It is basically the ground zero staging area. The church was untouched as it sits about two blocks up from the subdivision with cornfield between the two.
For those who personally know me or larger sponsors who want to make a donation. You email me at
[email protected] and I will give you my personal address to send to me. I will be taking the items directly into my sisters neighborhood that was destroyed.
Please don't send me any money. Although gift cards to Hardees, McDonalds, Walmart are ok...I will give them out to families, or use cards from retailers to purchase goods like water, trashbags, gloves...stuff we will need for cleanup.
If you wish to make a cash donation, they are getting some online things organized.
Salvation Army:
Online at
www.saheartland.org
By mail:
The Salvation Army - Disaster Relief
401 NE Adams Street
Peoria, IL 61603
Please make checks payable to "The Salvation Army" and clearly marked "November Tornado Relief."
You can also donate to the Red Cross if you would like. There will be some other online financial donations things coming online soon.
