A young Florence’s supply drive aids victims of hurricane
In the five years she’s been alive, Florence Wisniewski has never really metanyoneelsewhoshared hername. It’s not acommon name for kids, her mother, Tricia, admits.
So the JeffersonPark girl, whoturned 5 on Friday, was a little surprised earlier this month when her name suddenly was everywhere, on television screens and the front pages of newspapers, because of the arrival of Hurricane Florence on the Southeast coast.
Termed the “storm of a lifetime” by National Weather Service meteorologists, Hurricane Florence left behind an estimated$38 to $50 billion in damage. More than three dozen were reported dead.
Many hundreds of miles from the wreckage in the Carolinas, Florence and her mom resolved to help the storm’s victims. So Florence, also called Flo, set out to convince neighbors to donate goods to the relief effort.
“She was going up and down the street with a wagon,” her mother said.
Florence’s message for the families affected by what her mother calls “the other Florence” is simple: “We’re here for you!”
Days later, and after national news outlets learned of Florence’s efforts, the family had collected far more than a toy wagon’s worth of supplies: diapers, cutlery, paper plates, canned food, blankets, soap. A group on the West Side got in touch, promising more than a dozen boxes of goods. Family friends from Arizona mailed in items. One local woman dropped off 15 bottles of laundry detergent. Another woman, also named Florence, sent a card commending the 5year-old for her effort.
Andthough Florenceand her parents hoped to end their collection drive on Friday, the calls, texts and Jefferson Park residents Tricia Wisniewski and her daughter, Florence, 5, have been collecting supplies for Hurricane Florence victims.
supplies continued to pour in. Her mother estimates the cost of the items donated totals $4,000 or $5,000.
“Everyone is coming out of the woodwork,” Wisniewski said. “It’s awesome, but totally unexpected.”
The range of items the family has received, both at home and through Florence’s preschool, have been surprising too, Wisniewski said. In addition to things donated forhumanuse, a lot of donations have come in for pets and animals. Flea and tick treatments, food, pet kennels and leashes.
Millions of animals were among the storm’s casualties. Outside of household pets, North Carolina state officials said an estimated 3.4 million chickens and turkeys, and 5,500 hogs drowned in the floodwaters.
And while Florence and family wanted to help, they’ve run into a roadblock — how do they get the bounty they’ve collected from Chicago’s Northwest side, where they live, to the Carolina coast? The charities they first contacted were not easily able to get the supplies to those who need them, preferring financial donations.
By Friday afternoon, answers had arrived. A ministry in Ohio offered to sort and package the goods for shipping. The family was also able to secure transport for all of the items.
The family has set up an email address, theother florence@gmail.com, for those still interested in donating. The collection drive runs through Sept. 28.