Lombard donations help tornado-ravaged area

For more than two weeks, members of the Lombard Fire Department and residents from the International Village apartments in Lombard worked together to collect items to help a central Illinois community affected by a tornado in November.

The donations recently were delivered to a Washington respite center where they will be distributed to people in need.

Members of the fire department stuffed a pickup utility truck to the brim with personal care products, water, tools, warm clothing, baby supplies, gift cards and more before driving more than two hours south to the devastated area.

Fire Chief Paul DiRienzo, Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Howell, firefighter-paramedic Mark Laffrey and Communications Coordinator Bridget Doyle met with the chairman of the Tazewell County Board and Washington’s mayor and fire chief upon their arrival.

In addition to the delivery, the village sent three public works employees and dump trucks to Diamond, Ill., for three days to help with cleanup efforts.