Dawn Pate/Letter to the editor

Dear Editor:

I would like to take a moment of your time to than everyone that pulled together to help our family. After our recent disaster, I was heart broken and knew there was nothing left but memories from what we once had called home. There are no words to explain the loneliness and the emptiness that we felt as we watched out world burn to ashes. Everything we owned was disappearing before our eyes. While we were still trying to grasp what was happening, a very special family member was on the phone to any and everyone that she could think of, searching for help. Before fire fighters could contain the blazing inferno, Diane Alich was on the phone to Mayor Cecil Williamson. Diane and Mayor Williamson comforted us by assuring us that help was on the way. The following morning I was told that if I could find an available house, they would see that we were in it. Kitty Eddins played a big role as well, making sure the rent was paid, gas was turned on, and had a gift card for us at Wal-Mart to make sure that any immediate needs we had were met. A trip to Smokin Jack’s went further than one could have imagined. Jackie Poole, my former employer had a rental house that happened to be empty and in need of a family. From there, everything snowballed. Help was coming from everywhere. Within 24 hours of our home burning, we were in another with only an air mattress and a Christmas tree (courtesy of Cindy McDonald and Lori Fuller). I couldn’t have dreamed that this would be the best Christmas ever. There are so many that have helped us, I am unable to name them all. Please know that a sincere thank you goes out from our family to each and every one of those in this wonderful city of Demopolis for making this a Christmas to remember. I will continue to live in Demopolis so that I may give back what so many have given to us…love. Home is where the heart is, and there is more heart in this community than anyone could ever imagine. I tell our story with pride, knowing that we have been truly blessed. Once again, thanks, thank you to those who wished to remain anonymous. Thanks to Diane Alich, Mayor Williamson, Kitty Eddins, Jackie Poole, Cindy and Jeff McDonald, Don White, Lori Fuller, Tim Soronen, J.R. Rivers, Eva at Wal-Mart, Dale Sager, Joseph Sullivan, the Demopolis Fire Dept., Ken and Judy Pate, Donna Thorten, Mary Autry, all of the team members at Advance Auto Parts, American Red Cross, Rebecca Culpepper, the Rev. Aaron D. Raulerson at Trinity Episcopal Church, Leigh Anne and Garret Stephens, Mr. and Mrs. Randall, David Anderson, Lynn Thomason, First United Methodist Church, Fairhaven Baptist, Alagasco, Milton Cherry, Mrs. J.G. McCormick, Jr., Brittany Yelverton, Sherry Crawford, Matthew Davenport, Chase Tut, Harvey Hamilton, Harris and Tracey Hearst, Stephen Gutshall, and the list of others that I am unable to mention. Thank you, Demopolis.

Dawn Pate.