MEALS IN THE VALLEY
Lawrence families have bittersweet holiday
Lawrence families who have been crammed in the trailers in South Common ate a catered Thanksgiving meal on white linen tablecloths in a heated tent with two DJ’s yesterday, but still the twinge of not being in their own homes was tangible. Evelyn Corona, mother of six, has been living in an RV for more than a month with her three sons, her husband and her motherin-law while her three older children remain at home without hot water and a space heater for warmth. Corona brought her 4-year-old triplets in matching maroon buttonups for a Thanksgiving dinner on the South Common yesterday. “It’s tough, it’s tight but I live with warmth,” she said. Corona, who works as a nursing assistant, said she was sad that she couldn’t host Thanksgiving as she normally does, cooking ribs, pork and rice with her two younger sisters. “No turkey,” she said with a laugh. “The most important thing is that we are together and we are safe. We didn’t get hurt.” Eduardo Gonzaloz has been out of his own home for more than two months, which has no gas, hot water or electricity, and has been staying in the trailer since they first became available with his wife and four children. “Pretty much we are living in here,” he said. “I know th is is not home, I know this is not the dinner that we’re used to every year but we appreciate everything they’ve been doing.” They have bounced around to different RV units after the cold weather caused the pipes to freeze, he said. The trailers have been insulated, however, to try to prevent that from happening again.