Letter: An Oswego Couple's Reflection and Thanks for Aid with Tornado Relief

Today I walked where grass once grew and children played.  I stood where homes stood in honor of the families who built and lived in them.  I looked upon the trees which once waived majestically in the gentle breeze.  I gazed upon the horizon from end to end where families called home.

Today I walked in the rubble of people’s lives.  I stood on the spot where someone’s dreams were realized.  I saw unimaginable things for which pictures could not hold justice.  For which reporters could not even begin to tell you of.

Today I stood in the path of where the beast enacted its awesome power upon the land.  Changing people’s lives in less time than it takes for you to brush your teeth.  I was there to see the faces of those so grateful for the assistance.  Those who no longer take things for granted.  People who just last week, collectively feared for their lives.

On this day my idealism of being a humanitarian was reinforced, even though I have little to give myself.  I gave what I could along with my wife and friends who have the same idealism as I.   With the help of countless others who donated what they could, we helped to ease the pain of hundreds who we will never meet and the few that we did.

This, my friends, is why this is my passion.  We cannot stop the beast from roaming the land, indiscriminately taking away what people worked so hard for.  But, we can help ease the pain and help those in need start rebuilding their shattered lives.

Kelly and I would like to thank the following friends and businesses.  Without them, this could not have happened.

First and foremost, I will recognize my wife Kelly who, without prior experience, orchestrated this effort the last 5 days.  Without her, this may never have happened!

The residents of Oswego and surrounding areas for their selfless donations.

ICON Martial Arts in Oswego who came to Kelly with the idea of starting a collection and was a collection point.

The Oswego Fire Department who served as one of the collection points.

Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell Aurora/Naperville who also served as a collection point.

Yorkville Small Engine Repair and UHaul who donated the use of one of their trucks.

Peter Ciro who stepped in and gained additional resources and donations for us.  He also hauled donations which we could not fit in the UHaul.

Benjamin Rock who helped with hauling, communications, and general comedy relief.

Kyle Stover, Matt Fisher and his group who I did not get all their names who helped haul donations.

Lake County Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT) who brought their own truck filled to capacity and took some of our donations as well.

Natalie Stevens from the Yorkville/Oswego/Montgomery Patch who helped get the word out.

Finally, Kelly’s parents, Jim and Maureen Mulvoy who collected from their neighborhood and provided refreshments to our group as we prepared for the journey to Washington, Illinois.

All in all we had 2 panel trucks and 8 additional vehicles stuffed with donations.  The people of Washington will be forever grateful even though they may not know who we are.

Thank you all!

Erik and Kelly Gustafson
Oswego, Ill.