Grand Prairie Family Organizes Donation Drive for Flood Victims

A Grand Prairie Elementary School family is organizing a donation drive for tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, after many members of the school community were hit hard by flooding in the wake of Wednesday's storms.

A collection event is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the campus, 3300 Caton Farm Rd., Joliet. 

The event is being organized by dad Tom Hug and his family. He said his children, a Grand Prairie fourth-grader and a former Grand Prairie student, wanted to do something after they saw the flooding in neighborhoods near the school.

"My wife and kids and I were driving around and we said, 'There's got to be something we can do to help,'" he said. Homes near Caton Farm Road and the Frontage Road were hit hard by flooding, and some residents — including the Riverside Townes subdivision — were stranded, unable to leave their neighborhoods.

"These people have houses that have four, five, six feet of water," Hug said. "A lot of them don't have flood insurance because they make it so expensive to get it."

Hug hopes to collect donations to pass out to homeowners surrounding the campus. Items that are especially needed include:

• Non-perishable food items
• Toys
• Clothes
• Blankets
• Cleaning supplies (cleaners, paper towels)
• Gift cards

"If you dont have the ability to donate, once the waters have receded ... they're going to need help cleaning out," said Hug, who hopes to organize volunteers to help residents clean up in the days and weeks to come. "If we come out with 100 volunteers ... that can help make it easier."

He applauded Grand Prairie Principal Janan Szurek and school staff for helping make the event happen. 

"We're going to make it better," he said. "That's our goal."

Hug said anyone who has questions or wants to donate can email him at lt6680@comcast.net.

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Szurek sent this letter home to parents on Friday:

It has come to my attention that subdivisions within the Grand Prairie school boundaries have experienced significant flooding, with some homes almost completely under water. In an effort to support our Grand Prairie families, the Tom Hug family is organizing a collection. If you are able to donate food, clothing, blankets, cleaning supplies and even manpower come to Grand Prairie School tomorrow, Saturday, April 20th between noon and 3:00 p.m. The location for drop off has changed from the parking lot of Dominick’s to the parking lot of Grand Prairie School. 

Please contact Tom Hug at lt6680@comcast.net if you are willing to help or have any questions.

We appreciate any support for our Grand Prairie families. 

Janan Szurek

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• Gallery: Share Your Plainfield Storm Photos and Videos
• Flooding Shuts Down I-55 at Channahon; Traffic Rerouted to I-80
• Gov. Quinn Declares State of Emergency
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• Rainfall Totals in Chicago Suburbs
• Local Animal Shelter Evacuates; Illinois State Police Shut Down Frontage Road