Editorial: Marengo explosion victims need help at a 'surreal' time
Jennifer Sells Olster knows what it means to be a good friend and a good neighbor.
Her Marengo neighbors are in need, and Olster and Nicole Laegeler are among many doing what they can to help.
"Honestly, even if I didn't know any of them, I would help if I could," Olster said. "We live in a small town and we all try to be there for one another as best we can."
Nothing defines neighbor better than that. And Olster's good friends need her help - and yours - as they deal with the explosion that leveled their house and damaged more than 50 in their Marengo neighborhood. Authorities say three neighboring homes caught fire and 19 are uninhabitable.
It's a tragedy difficult to comprehend, but all one has to do is look at the drone pictures we published in Tuesday's edition and show here on this page to understand the enormity of the damage.
Miraculously, the family whose home exploded was on vacation and therefore unhurt. And only two people suffered minor injuries in the neighborhood. Those who live on the 500 block of 7th Circle know how lucky they are.
"You can replace a house. You can't replace a body," said Austin Keefer, 19. Keefer's house was leveled, but he, his parents and sister got out safely, with only Austin and his dad suffering minor burns.
"You keep thinking about everything you lost, but we got everybody (out). We're just thankful," Austin told the Daily Herald's Lauren Rohr.
But the Keefers and other families will need help and that's where Laegeler and Olster come in. Laegeler created a Facebook page to organize information about donations, collection sites, events and other relief efforts.
As of last night, all the efforts are being consolidated, according to Olster, through the Marengo M.O.R.E. Center, a nonprofit at 829 Greenlee Street.
They are accepting donations of clothing, items, gift cards and money that will be specifically used to help the affected families, if noted for Marengo Disaster Fund. The center is open Wednesday through Friday this week from 9 a.m. to noon to drop items off. Or, money can be donated at its website www.marengomorecenter.org.
If you go to the Facebook page, Friends, Family and Friends Affected by the 7th Circle Explosion, you can see how people are helping - dropping off bottles of water, planning a massive cleanup effort, encouraging all to donate what they can to help these families deal with their losses.
If you can help, they need it. It's the neighborly thing to do.
"We're humbled by everyone's support," Keefer said. "It's just surreal."