Toys for Tornado Kids

Thanks to the generosity of our congregation, we are able to host a FUSION program for families with special needs. One of our FUSION students (Lilli) was inspired to go beyond after tornados devastated Fairsdale, IL.  Her grandmother tells the story bellow...

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When we were looking at photos of the damage caused by the tornado that hit Fairdale, Lilli saw a picture of a totally destroyed home and cried, “Those children don’t have any toys!” We talked more about it, and we suggested that she could do something about it. She could have a toy drive! We checked into relief efforts and none of the lists included toys, so Lilli knew that it would be very important to get toys to those children.

She went shopping with $42 dollars of her own money, and while that was a nice start, her mom and nana knew she could use help. We spread the word of Lilli’s Toys for Tornado Kids Drive via social media. Friends from all over sent toys, and some sent money suggesting that Lilli go shopping for the toys for the tornado kids. So Lilli went shopping again, carefully considering each purchase. Women from Tuesday morning Growth Groups also wanted to participate, so many of them brought toys as well.

After gathering a small mountain of toys, her mom, nana, and Lilli drove out to Fairdale to deliver them. Lilli was very somber as we drove into the areas where the damage started to show saying, “It’s awful.” A family we met had 3 girls, one of whom had just celebrated a birthday. Their dad said they were at school so we didn’t get to meet the children, but their dad told us how happy they would be to come home to new toys from thoughtful people who cared about them.

We asked a lady who was working hard to help clean up if she had any children or grandchildren, and would she like to choose some toys for them. She pointed to an exposed basement behind her and said, “That’s my house. But thank you anyway. At least we’re alive.” It was an amazing and extremely humbling experience for all of us.

We took the rest of the toys to a nearby fire department, and the people working the phones and recovery were so proud of Lilli. She got to meet a fire fighter who also thanked her for her work and gave her Two-Thumbs-Up.

Lynn G.