Woman Organizes Holiday Decoration Drive For Flood Victims
LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4) - Many families are still out of their homes and without their belongings following September's floods. Now one woman is on a campaign to make sure the families who lost so much can enjoy some holiday cheer.
Even those who didn't lose their homes lost a lot of the belongings stored in their basements. So one Kris Kringle-like woman is asking all Coloradans to check their own basements to see if they don't have a few decorations they can spare this year.
"I kept checking my basement to see if I had any water, and I thought, 'What's important down there? It's just a bunch of junk,' " said Lisa Truesdale of Longmont.
But then Truesdale, who loves the holidays, realized her Christmas decorations were stored in her basement, and it prompted her to launch a decorations drive.
"A lot of memories attached; some of them were of my mother, I even have some ornaments that were my grandmother's," she said. "And then I thought, 'There were a lot of basements flooded.' "
The water caused far more important and tragic losses than ornaments and plastic mistletoe. Still, Truesdale wants flood victims to enjoy their time with their families this holiday season.
"So I am collecting anything Christmas."
She'll take anything and then she'll give away everything to flood victims who have dried their tears and want something to look forward to.
"People who lost their Christmas decorations in the floods can come by and choose some new ones."
Those who want to help with the decorations drive can email Truesdale to arrange pickup and delivery at lisatruesdale@mindspring.com.
Flood victims can pick up free decorations at the Twin Peaks Mall on Nov. 23 beginning at 1 p.m.
Colorado Floods: How To Help
The recent floods are impacting families and communities throughout Colorado, so CBS4 has compiled a list of ways you can support the local communities impacted by the floods.
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