Buffalo Grove Women Host Tornado Relief Collection

When news of Sunday’s storms broke, two Buffalo Grove women immediately knew they wanted to help the victims.

“It hadn’t even hit yet and the words out of my mom’s mouth were, ‘At least we won’t have very far to go to help,’” Kara Welborn said. 

Her mother, Maureen Welborn, is collecting donations that will be transported to the Washington, Ill., area that was devastated by tornadoes.

Maureen Welborn said her desire to convert part of her home into a donation storage room is a simple one.

“I always figure, as long as I’m warm and comfortable and have water, and someone else doesn’t, they can have what I have,” she said.

“It’s so close to home. By a few miles, it could have been us,” she said. “If the tables were turned, they’d do the same for us.”

Her effort is part of a larger response that’s being coordinated by Operation Get it Done, a nonprofit organization that comes to the aid of natural disaster victims.

Because recovery efforts will be ongoing in the Washington area, the Welborns said they’ll accept donations at least through January. Operation Get it Done organizers will pick up donations regularly from Welborn's home and other designated collection sites. 

“We have so much that we can give. Even if it’s just time, we can make a difference,” Kara Welborn said. “These people have nothing now. They don’t even have a toothbrush. So any kind of donation will be appreciated.”

“If everybody that drove by dropped off a case of water, that would be phenomenal,” her mother added.

Items needed for immediate relief include:

• Bottled water for drinking
• Water containers that can be refilled, such as five-gallon collapsible plastic camping bags. They are using water to flush toilets.
• Non-perishable, ready to eat food
• Large, construction-grade trash bags
• Storage totes
• Pet Supplies
• Baby food, formula and supplies
• Chainsaws, rakes, shovels and work gloves.

The Welborns began reaching out Monday to friends and family via social media to spread the word of their effort. Response so far has been slower than in the past, when the family collected donations for victims of the Joplin, Mo., and Oklahoma tornadoes and Hurricane Sandy, they said.

“I’m hoping that maybe they are waiting for the weekend,” Kara Welborn said. 

Want to help?

• Drop off donated items at Maureen Welborn’s home, 423 Bernard Drive, Buffalo Grove. If no one is home, donations can be left on the front porch.
• Donations are also being collected at Lionize Training Center, 516 W. Campus Drive, Arlington Heights.
• Donate money through Operation Get it Done. Learn more about the organization on its website and follow its relief updates on Facebook.
• To volunteer or to host your own donation drive, email Operation Get it Done at Illinoistornado@gmail.com.
• The Buffalo Grove Police Department is accepting donations Nov. 22-24 as part of a separate effort. Learn more here.