The pounding rain began in the middle
of the night. The people of Jackson, Ohio awoke to the sound then went back to
sleep. The next day the rain continued, and the water began to rise. Statistics
said Jackson floods once every one hundred years, but no one believed this would
be the flood of the century. People were evacuated from their homes to higher
ground, leaving everything behind. Buildings in the low-lying areas were
immersed in water. People watched as dogs, cats, cows and other animals were
swept away. Cars and trucks were carried miles from their homes; The people felt
helpless as they watched Mother Nature show her power.
Susan
returned to her sixth-grade-student-teaching experience the following Monday.
She told the story to her students and showed them pictures from the newspaper.
Her inspired and compassionate students took action. They stopped raising money
for their trip to Camp, Kern and began raising money for the flood victims. They
sold lollipops, wrote letters to the community asking for donations and
collected their own money. Even fast-graders donated money. Mountains of
clothes, furniture and food piled up. Susan’s class made Easter baskets from
shoe-boxes and filled them with candy and toys as well as toothpaste, soap,
toothbrushes and shampoo.
She and I loaded her mom’s black Chevy
Beretta to the ceiling with the Easter baskets. On the trip there, I wondered
what I would see; I couldn’t imagine losing almost everything. Dusk was
beginning to set in, and I felt nervous when we arrived. My stomach dropped when
I saw some houses reduced to the railroad ties that had been their foundation.
The smell of river water permeated the air. No carpet, furniture, plumbing or
appliances remained. Knowing that only days ago this had been someone’s home
pained my heart. How many children had grown up here What kind of memories
lingered Would the house ever be rebuilt The monster flood had dulled its roar
and retreated, but its impact would be long-lasting.
We drove
from house to house, knocking on doors, ready to begin our mission. I was filled
with trepidation. Would families who had been devastated by floodwater want an
Easter basket The gesture was beginning to seem useless. "Hello, I’m Susan
Moore, and this is my friend, Allison. My sixth-graders at Pennyroyal Elementary
made Easter baskets for you when they heard about the flooding because they
wanted to help."
Their faces lit up as they opened their gifts.
As we entered one home, a husband and wife were crouched over their floor with
hammer and nails. When be opened the box, he began to cry. "I can’t
believe those kids did this. Let me give you some money for their school." As I
glanced at what was left of his home, I could not believe his generous spirit.
He eventually conceded to write a thank-you note instead. One woman ran out to
find us after opening her box, tears roiling down her face. "I collected .bunny
rabbits, and I lost them all in the flood. There was a small pink rabbit in my
box. I can start my collection again. Thank you." The burly man standing next to
her also had tears in his eyes.
My heart was warmed as I played
the small role of messenger in this tribute to the good in the human spirit. So
often we hear of the shortcomings of our youth, but these youngsters answered a
cry for help and gave proof that generosity and love
prevail. |
