National TV Host Puts Spotlight on Cedar Rapids and Local Nonprofit
"You and your neighbors have been on my mind".
Those are the words of national TV host Mike Rowe. It took a few days longer than some would have liked, while others will agree with the moral of this story right away. Iowans can do it ourselves.
But thanks to some of our local media personalities including KCRG's Beth Malicki and Iowa's News Now's Rebecca Kopelman, our derecho devastation is getting some national coverage.
On his website, Rowe, for his part talks about two letters he received from residents in the Cedar Rapids area. You can read the full post here, but Rowe went on to give a shoutout to one organization mobilizing, as it always does, to step up and help its community. In response to the letters from Linda Dulin Chittick and Ben Kaplin, Rowe recalls his visit to Cedar Rapids in 2009, one year after our devastating flood, when he and his crew hooked up with Matthew 25. He said then, "I was struck by the sheer resilience of Iowans, and their reluctance to ask for help". Mike Rowe is clearly no stranger to Cedar Rapids and is well aware of the help we need right now that, in some cases, we won't ask for ourselves. We're willing to be #IowaStrong and do it by ourselves, but it never hurts to have someone so recognizable on your side who is bringing attention to an amazing group working to deploy that help.
According to their website, Matthew 25's own building is severely damaged but in the midst of it all, they are still out fulfilling their mission for those in need in Cedar Rapids. They are taking donations at the Hosmer Center, 604 Ellis Blvd. NW. To contribute, take your donations of generators, tarps or other supplies or items there between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., or call (319)651-0471 and speak with Azure.