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Greek Chicagoans Keeping Close Eye On Economic Crisis In Homeland

CHICAGO (CBS) -- All eyes continue to focus on Greece and its' financial crisis. The country will vote on Sunday whether to accept European credit demands in exchange for vital cash.

Greek banks remained closed today and residents waited in long lines to withdraw whatever they could from ATMs.

People took to the streets-- fearful of what this economic collapse will mean.

The country's finance minister says Greece will not pay the nearly two billion dollars due in debt payments.

The Greek crisis is also touching the lives of Chicago area families. CBS 2's Vince Gerasole has the details on how many are on edge.

Beside a plate of Greek Town sweets you expect monitors are tuned to economic reports form the homeland.

"Mostly you worry about supporting Greece," said Maria Melidis.

But a Greek American dress designer followed closely, too.

"Our family has transferred their money somewhere else," said Victoria Sdoukos. "The ATM is running out of money."

So too, a Greek American stylist form the North Shore

"My mother, sister…everybody's there except myself," said George Flannery.

They're part of Chicago's vibrant Greek American community, by some estimates 300,000 strong, adapting to tough times thousands of miles away

"We are fixing our home in Greece and my mom was supposed to go there and decided last minute she's not going because of all that's going on. It's a very uncertain time.

"My mother's got cash for the most part but it will become a problem if she can't get into the banks," Flannery said.

Sdoukos says her mother was supposed to go to Greece where they are fixing their home, but she decided not to because of the uncertainty.

"I am concerned but just like any Greek we fall down and we get back up," she said.

They're part of Chicago's vibrant Greek American community, by some estimates 300,000 strong.

Victoria Sdoukos and her mother have actually cancelled renovations on their family home in Greece because of the crisis.

"You don't know if the work is going to get done people are suffering right now and it may very well be the case they'll take the money and you won't hear from them," she said.

George Flannery's mother made sure to return to Greece this summer cash in hand.

"It will become a problem if she can't get into the banks," Flannery said.

"I am concerned but just like any Greek, we fall down and we get back up," Sdoukos said.

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