UDPATE
Kristina Irvine says she is “overwhelmed” (in a good way) by the amount of support she’s received after her call to action asking for donations for hurricane Helene victims. She says she has not one but two offices now filled with items and walls of boxes fill the hallway of her building in downtown Naperville.
“I don’t want this to stop though,” Irvine said. “It’s been amazing!”
The Naperville realtor is collecting everything from toiletries to food to pet supplies until October 19 with the hopes of filling at least half a semi-truck from Prager Moving and Storage Company. Now that Hurricane Milton has ascended upon Florida, there’s a possibility of any overflow to go on second truck slated for delivery near areas damaged by that hurricane shortly after.
Now more than 25 area businesses and organizations have jumped on board, many of which serving as drop-off points for residents to bring donations.
“I knew there was no way I could gather the amount of stuff needed by myself and the community continued to come together in more and more ways to make this happen.”
Irvine says that while generally enough is never enough in these circumstances, she’s received tons of clothing items but not nearly enough baby formula and first-aid supplies, which she says are much needed for these areas damaged by the hurricanes.
Participating businesses and organizaitons
- Active Childcare
- Animal Care Clinic of Homerglen
- DuPage Children’s museum
- Elvis Leon Farmers Insurance
- Felonius Fudge
- First Class Smiles
- Foxmoor Veterinary Clinic
- Fun Hub
- Granger Middle School
- Hawthorne of Oakhurst
- Hillbilly Rockstarz
- Keller Williams Infinity
- Loan Depot
- Oswego Animal Hospital
- Plainfield Pet Resort
- Prager Moving and Storage
- Randal Road Animal Hospital
- Sandwich Veterinary Hospital
- Springbank
- Tiffanie’s Dog Grooming
- Valley Animal Hospital
- Veronica Leon-Revolution Mortgage
- Westmont Yard
- Wheatland Township
- Yorkville Animal Hospital
- Xs and Os Palos
ORIGINAL STORY
Local realtor Kristina Irvine is partnering with a Naperville moving company to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
“Heartbroken” by the hurricane
As the death toll from Helene has now exceeded 200 people according to the AP, with more than half of the fatalities in North Carolina, rescuers continue to search for survivors, and communities are now faced with having to rebuild.
When Irvine saw the images of the damage left in the hurricane’s wake, she said she was “heartbroken” to see so many lose their homes.
“These people, it’s their home, it’s their whole, entire life,” said Irvine. “It’s something they purchased to be a part of their future wealth and the possibility for their retirement. It’s the place they made all their memories.”
Her call to action
Knowing she had to do something, Irvine took to Facebook to ask for donations, not knowing what would happen next.
“My phone started blowing up almost instantly,” she said. “It was comments. It was direct messages. It was phone calls. Everybody had something and they wanted somewhere to bring (it) and a way to do it.”
Perfect timing
It just so happens that Prager Moving and Storage Company in Naperville has a delivery scheduled for North Carolina in two weeks. The company reached out to Irvine, offering to fill up about half of a semi-truck with any and all donations if she would gather them.
“It was a meant-to-be scenario, not just that we had a truck going in that direction, but you see the massive devastation, the news, the photos, the massive loss and think, ‘ok, how can I be part of the solution and making things better for them,'” said the company’s president Joe Spooner.
“A client who became a friend of mine called me because her mom lives in the area that we’re sending the semi to and it’s pretty devastating,” said Irvine. “We were literally on the phone crying together about what happened in the area and the impact that this is going to make.”
For the next two weeks, Irvine is hoping to fill that truck – if not a second – with donations.
Drop-off specifics
Donated items for hurricane victims can be dropped off at Irvine’s office at the Keller Williams Office as follows:
- 608 S. Washington Street, Naperville, IL
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday through Friday
- Now until October 19
Items needed for hurricane relief
Prager Moving and Storage collection on Oct. 19
“[The hurricane victims] have just lost everything they have,” said Irvine. “It’s making them feel like we’re here, we have your back. You’re not doing this alone.”
Irvine says if you have any questions or additional ideas, you can reach out to her directly via email: kristinairvinerealtor@gmail.com
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