Tornado damage in Ringle, WI. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Money is an imperfect tool after an earthquake.
Most of the 75 houses that were damaged in Ringle were insured. Claims will be filed. Homes will be rebuilt.
But there are other things that were lost that money can’t replace. Wedding photographs. Gifts from your children’s arts and crafts projects at school.
I know if a tornado hit my house, I’d rebuild fast enough. But the photographs of my beloved grandmother would be swept away. The model trains that I’ve spent hours building in my basement would be gone. How do you put a dollar value on that?
Although money doesn’t make these families whole, it is the tool that’s available to us. And the community has given generously. The fund that’s been run by the Communoty Foundation and the United Way has already taken in over $140,000. The number has likely grown larger over the weekend.
At Midwest Communications people were lining up 50-deep for our cookout at Ace Hardware. The food was donated for free; what we asked for was a freewill donation. On Friday morning the cash that had been given was well over $10,000. Others wrote checks or made on-line donations. The total that was given is much, much larger. We’ll present a check to the Town of Ringle relief fund later today, and I’ll share the final amount with you tomorrow.
The generosity from our community is boundless. If you gave, in any way, thank you.
Chris Conley
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