'Angel of Rocky Point' rallies neighbors to help storm victims
A little more than a week after tornados ripped through our communities, the story in one neighborhood isn't so much about the damage left behind.
It's about the way the neighbors rallied around those hardest hit.
Michael Mauri and his family were forced to take shelter in a small bathroom while a tornado destroyed his home in the Rocky Point neighborhood of Port Salerno.
"We were all pretty happy to be alive, but we realized pretty fast that we got hit by a tornado, and we lost a lot," Mauri said.
And it wasn't just the Mauris.
So many homes in the community were destroyed or damaged.
"The following day, we got out into the neighborhood, and that's when we realized what had happened and how many of our neighbors had lost their homes," said Kelly Grandinetti, a neighbor whose home was not damaged. "I knew we had to do something."
So, Grandinetti started organizing.
She created a Facebook page called "Rocky Point Tornado Relief Group."
In no time, people were donating things like money, supplies, and temporary housing for those who had been displaced.
"It's been a beautiful thing to watch everybody come together to help those in need," Grandinetti said. "It's personal. This is close to our hearts. I think we all realize it could have been any one of us."
The momentum hasn't stopped.
In just the last week, Grandinetti's Facebook page has helped raise nearly $40,000 in cash, gift cards, and supplies.
Every penny is going to families impacted by the storm.
"I think it's the most uplifting experience I've ever had," Mauri said. "I've no words other than so much respect and gratitude."
The Mauris now have a place to stay, along with some clothing and supplies.
They have nicknamed Grandinetti the Angel of Rocky Point.
"I feel like it hasn't been me," Grandinetti said about the nickname. "I may have gotten the ball rolling, but it's really been a community effort. And it's frankly been very rewarding to know we are making a difference."
"It means the world to us," Mauri said. "It's one thing to lose everything. But then, to have the support, you know you're not alone."
"I'm not sure exactly where we go from here, but I know it's far from over," Grandinetti said. "I'm in it for the long haul. And I think a lot of neighbors feel the same way."
Multiple GoFundMe accounts have been set up for families in the neighborhood, including one account for the Mauris and another account for 105-year-old Jayne Huston , who also lost her home.
