In last week’s Oxford Leader, we reported on the tragic events in Addison Township. In cold hard print we told of how the Rivest family lost two of their own.
We also asked readers to pray for the surviving Rivests — mother Karin and her children Rachel, who is in the second grade and Hunter, who’s in kindergarten.
Karin lost her husband and a 20-month-old son, the children lost their dad and baby brother in an explosion that destroyed the family’s ‘dream home.? We published photos of what was left of the smoldering structure. Propane leak, somewhere in the house’s fuel supply line is what some are blaming. We may never know the truth. It wasn’t pretty — there is no nice way to relate that story. There is no spin dial to make things better. There are only the facts and no one likes them.
We also published a little blurb, less than 100-word with a small headline, ‘A call to arms.? It was a notice to the community to reach out to the surviving Rivests. ‘Our community has , and will again, open its arms to embrace, our hearts to love and, if necessaryour wallets, to help,? we wrote.
Communities are great places to live. They are not bound by drawn lines on maps. They are defined by those who make up a said social group — by those who live together but might not know each other. Communities like ours are great places to live because folks of all different means come together in times of tragedy to help one of their own in need.
Such is the case here in this community. Folks have opened up to the Rivests. I started receiving calls Thursday at work and then at home. The calls offering some sort of support have not ceased. People want to help.
Let me report — with the same cold, hard print we used to tell of the explosion — of the call to arms.
I learned straight away that the folks from the church the Rivests attend, the Living Word Lutheran Church in Rochester, immediately were able to come together with clothing.
And then folks who didn’t even know the family started calling.
‘Don, this is Stewart Cox of Addison Foods. I’ve got a donation jar up on the counter. If the family needs a drop off spot for clothes or anything, let me know, I’ll do it.?
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‘Don, Bob Bunting here. I live close to where the Rivest home was. If they need a place to stay they can use our carriage house.?
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‘I have a empty home, if the family needs one,? Ray VanTine said. ‘A few years back I lost my home to a fire and somebody helped me. I’d like to help the Rivests.?
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On my voice mail at work. . . .
‘Hi Don. I’m Melissa Flannigan, a teacher at Clear Lake Elementary. Student council has voted to have a Hat Day on Friday, January 16. The students will pay to wear their favorite hats to school. The money raised will go to the Rivest family . . . call me if you want more information.?
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‘Hi, about the call to arms — I have a platform rocker they can have. My name is Marilyn Frenk, give me a call at . . . ?
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I also had a call from Liza Bivens. She and her friend Tina Perez are trying to come up with some sort of fund raiser for the family. And, I’m sure there are others out there who have stepped up to the plate.
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The points are these: Folks care. People want to help. A community is a great place to live. I want to personally thank all those community helpers out there who are opening their arms, hearts, wallets and more.
I’ve heard the Rivests are now concentrating on long-term finances. Mrs. Rivest would like to start a college fund for Rachel and Hunter. Folks can call the Living Word Lutheran Church at 248-651-5316 to offer assistance. And, if there are any events planned, keep us informed so we can tell the rest of the community.
E-mail Don at: dontrushmedon@aol.com