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Senior complex welcomes newest resident Hurricane
"Individually, we all wanted to do something to help people, and we knew we had units available," Zedecker said. "We all got together and decided to offer a few units to evacuees." The one and two bedroom apartments were just finished, said Dave Sanders, of HDP Cambridge. "We knew it would be a number of months before all the units were filled," Sanders said. "We thought we could help get someone get back on track." Not long after they listed the available units, Laverne Bryant found the Web site. Bryant, who evacuated from New Orleans the day before Katrina hit, jumped at the chance to stay in an apartment instead of a shelter. "I was staying at a hotel in Louisiana, but a lot of my family, unfortunately, couldn't get out and had to be rescued," Bryant said. "Everybody is safe, but they are all separated and nobody wants to leave the area." How they helped: The 31-year-old moved into the apartment on Monday with her few belongings. She received help from Our Savior Lutheran Church, which donated a $500 gift certificate to Wal-Mart. In case she gets hungry, Giordanos, which will open next to Naper Place soon, gave Bryant six months worth of gift certificates to the restaurant. First Congregational Church UCC 25 E. Benton Ave., donated all the furniture, toiletries, towels, kitchen supplies and some food for Bryant's apartment. Cort Furniture and Marshall Fields also donated items to help make Bryant feel more at home. Bryant, who worked for the city of New Orleans as a bid coordinator, recently received her master's degree in organizational management. She hopes to put that degree to work, possibly in the Naperville area. "It is truly wonderful here, the people have all been great," Bryant said. Through donations, next week Bryant will make a short trip back to her home to see if anything is salvageable. "They have told me everything is demolished," she said. "I still want to see if for myself." Naper Place has offered Bryant free housing for six months and Sanders said they hope to offer her at least part-time work at the complex until she can land a full-time job. Sanders said Bryant's skills navigating the Internet can come in hand helping out the handful of seniors that have also moved into the apartments. Bryant said she can't thank people enough for the free housing and donations. "This just gives me a little time to breathe and try to figure everything out," she said. 10/07/05 |
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