Knowing Brenda

I've known Brenda since I started working at Stewart Library back in 2001. Over the years we've grown to be very good friends. When the fire happened I just ached for her and her family. It wasn't just that there was a fire, which in itself is a terrible thing to have to deal with, but that it was yet another in the long string of things that I have seen this wonderful woman have to deal with. It seems that no matter how hard they try they just can't seem to get a break. I know that everyone has obstacles that they have to overcome, but believe me when I say that this family has had more than most.

Brenda is a writer at heart and a couple of years ago she started blogging. She's a very shy person by nature and her writing gives insights into her life and thoughts that I would often never know based on our day to day conversations. But I love to read her blogs (she's got three). She posted right after the fire, and several of her posts since have been about the process and the struggle as she and her family have tried to deal with the aftermath. I thought that people who were involved in this project might be interested in learning about the family they will be helping and getting to know Brenda this way. And if you in any way feel weird about reading her personal writings, read the last link on the list first: "Not blogging up to my potential" is a post that specifically talks about how she wishes more people would read her blogs!

By the way - there's a link along the left side of this blog that goes to her blog. It will take you to her most recent posts as they happen so keep an eye on it.

Posts about the fire

• My house burned this morning
• The pinprick of light at the end of a very long tunnel
• Hold fast
• Home
• Please unplug your plastic toaster
• Bird by bird
• A fixer upper
  

Posts about her mother's stroke

• Tremendous fun to tragedy & trauma
• First do no harm

About the need to blog and the desire to have her blog read

• Not blogging up to my potential
  

Our Volunteers

Foremen:
Brian Mitchell
Mike Whitley
Brian Hoffman
Todd Reding

Financial Coordinator and Fund Raising
Shannon Reding

Public Relations Coordinator
Alex Mitchell

Church Liason and Lay Leader
Brian Mitchell

Volunteer Coordinator and Scheduling
Jennifer Cogley

Thank you to all our Volunteers!

Foremen Meeting Set

The foremen are scheduled to meet at noon on Friday, December 6th to update our plan, and review the workshift schedule. All interested parties are invited to attend. We will be meeting at Lonnski's in downtown Grinnell.

Shannon Reding has requested a quote for a "Pod" temporary storage unit to be delivered to the site on Monday, December 1st. This will be used for the family's current belongings in the house.

A tentative work shift is scheduled for Friday, December 6th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Our core responsibilities will be transferring items inside the house to the storage unit. More info. to come.

We are looking for two large garbage "dumpsters" to be delivered and placed on either side of the house next week. Please refer any suggestions to Todd Reding.

Note the logo is complete, and please feel free to post ideas, comments, etc. as we move forward!

New Pictures from Project 1707

Getting Started

We have organized our project leadership using four "foremen" and key volunteer coordinators. A work shift scheduling document is being circulated, and public relations tools (such as this blog) are in development. Anticipate a complete Project 1707 launch by December 6th. Please keep watching this site for the latest information!
Thanks!