- J
Best friends are forever. My best friend Diana M. Howze and I met our freshman year of college and have remained tight to this day. Diana is the sweet soul, do anything for anybody, strong, fiercely loyal, dynamic, beautiful sister I've never had. It's phone calls like the one today, that puts things into perspective and makes me remember to always stay connected with those that I love because tomorrow is never promised to anyone. This is just a scratch on the surface of why I love Diana and why I'd do anything for her as well.
Therefore, it saddens me to no end to share with you that on the evening of Saturday, March 28th, 2020, Diana's home was decimated by the tornado that touched down in her town of Jonesboro, Arkansas. The roof was ripped off of her home while she and her two sons took refuge in one of their bathrooms. Just listening to her recant the horror of the tornado brought tears to my eyes. She said it sounded like "a giant freight train" was speeding towards them. She was thrown against the tub and the walls from the sheer force of the winds.
I am now and forever very thankful that she and the boys were not seriously and physically injured, but for a few bruises. This is the MOST important detail of this trauma. However, they are understandably very shaken up from this event and I suspect stress, shock, and realization of loss are very near the surface. They have lost almost everything and are not even allowed to go back to the site to see if they can salvage personal items. Years of memorabilia, clothes, basic essentials are now gone. The boys were eagerly awaiting to start school in the summer but now with the loss of their clothing and electronics and with the Covid-19 crisis, this is now up in the air.
It is my duty and honor to help my best friend in any way I can, whenever I can. If I could write them a check for a million dollars, I would do so without hesitation. As we are living in unprecedented times with the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, I know times are hard for many. We are impacted, financially, socially, mentally and some of us do not know when we'll see another paycheck. The ONLY silver lining to this tragedy is that due to the closures of businesses around the country and the orders to shelter in place, the mall very near Diana's home was also destroyed and... It was EMPTY. There is a slew of other smaller businesses in the area that have been completely razed to the ground.
I'm appealing to you, as my friend, and most likely her's as well, to help me raise funds to support her search for a new home. She will likely need to replace clothing for herself and her family but restoring a sense of home is the first priority. Currently, she, the boys and their dog Prince are staying at a local hotel. She has been blessed that only minimal damage was done to her car and she can still travel to and from work.
My goal is to ensure she has enough funds to:
- carry her through the uncertainty of finding a new home and
- cover deposits and rent as well as
- provide food and nutrition for the three of them while they live in temporary shelter.
No amount is too small and sending blessings and prayers are definitely appreciated. This GoFundMe page will be linked directly to an account only she has access to, there is no middle person/entity. Please feel free to share this appeal with your own friends and family as appropriate.
Please hold your loved ones close.
Sincerely,
Torri
Therefore, it saddens me to no end to share with you that on the evening of Saturday, March 28th, 2020, Diana's home was decimated by the tornado that touched down in her town of Jonesboro, Arkansas. The roof was ripped off of her home while she and her two sons took refuge in one of their bathrooms. Just listening to her recant the horror of the tornado brought tears to my eyes. She said it sounded like "a giant freight train" was speeding towards them. She was thrown against the tub and the walls from the sheer force of the winds.
I am now and forever very thankful that she and the boys were not seriously and physically injured, but for a few bruises. This is the MOST important detail of this trauma. However, they are understandably very shaken up from this event and I suspect stress, shock, and realization of loss are very near the surface. They have lost almost everything and are not even allowed to go back to the site to see if they can salvage personal items. Years of memorabilia, clothes, basic essentials are now gone. The boys were eagerly awaiting to start school in the summer but now with the loss of their clothing and electronics and with the Covid-19 crisis, this is now up in the air.
It is my duty and honor to help my best friend in any way I can, whenever I can. If I could write them a check for a million dollars, I would do so without hesitation. As we are living in unprecedented times with the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, I know times are hard for many. We are impacted, financially, socially, mentally and some of us do not know when we'll see another paycheck. The ONLY silver lining to this tragedy is that due to the closures of businesses around the country and the orders to shelter in place, the mall very near Diana's home was also destroyed and... It was EMPTY. There is a slew of other smaller businesses in the area that have been completely razed to the ground.
I'm appealing to you, as my friend, and most likely her's as well, to help me raise funds to support her search for a new home. She will likely need to replace clothing for herself and her family but restoring a sense of home is the first priority. Currently, she, the boys and their dog Prince are staying at a local hotel. She has been blessed that only minimal damage was done to her car and she can still travel to and from work.
My goal is to ensure she has enough funds to:
- carry her through the uncertainty of finding a new home and
- cover deposits and rent as well as
- provide food and nutrition for the three of them while they live in temporary shelter.
No amount is too small and sending blessings and prayers are definitely appreciated. This GoFundMe page will be linked directly to an account only she has access to, there is no middle person/entity. Please feel free to share this appeal with your own friends and family as appropriate.
Please hold your loved ones close.
Sincerely,
Torri
Organizer and beneficiary
Diana Howze
Beneficiary