Dear CCC Family,

Thank you SO much for the kindness that you have shown to me and my family.  As many of you know, we lost everything in the November 17th EF4 tornado that went through our town of Washington, Illinois. We heard the sirens and went down to our basement.  Then a few minutes later, the sirens stopped.  We thought, ok the storm wasn’t as bad as they thought.  Then my husbands scanner went off saying that the tornado had touched down in Washington and they gave the direction it was traveling.  I looked out our basement window and I saw it coming.  I called my husband over to look at it.  He said “Dianna – It’s going to hit us head on”.  We went under the stairs and waited.  We saw as the tornado hit our home.  It was a dark twirling mass and you could actually see debris flying in it.  30 seconds later, life changed.  We found out later that the siren really didn’t stop – the tornado took them.

We came up from under our stairs, debris everywhere.  Where we once had walls and ceiling, was now open sky.  We lost all our cars, our home and everything inside our home.  Just like many of you, I have competed in many contests over the years.  I lost all my ribbon, trophies, prizes, favorite cooking tools, my collection of over 400 cookbooks, my 20 autographed cookbooks, and most importantly ALL the recipes that I have ever created.  I just can’t even begin to tell you the amount of loss & grief that I have been going through.

Imagine my surprise when I came home on New Years Eve to find your boxes waiting for me.  They were boxes filled with all kinds of things to help me start to rebuild my kitchen.  They were all gifts from my CCC family!  Some of you I have never met.  Others of you, I have had the great privledge of meeting.  I am just SO overwhelmed with your kind words, encouraging thoughts, and your generosity.  Thank You!!!

A very special Thank You needs to go to Kristina Vanni who coordinated this whole event.  Kristina called me shortly after the tornado and said, “What do you need?”  I’m pretty sure my comment back to her was “everything”.  Another special thank you goes to Debbie Vanni.  She was the lucky person who got to receive and hold all my wonderful gifts.  I hear it took up a lot of space in her living room.  Thank you ladies!

We are going to rebuild!  Not only our home but our lives as well.  Our contractor tore out our remaining basement/foundation last week.  As soon as we get a break in this frigid Midwest weather they will pour our foundation and walls.  Once the first wooden beam is put up, they have given us an 8 – 9 month window.  So, with any luck, we will hopefully being moving in by November of this year.  From the bottom of my heart, Thank You to everyone!  Your gifts have brought a smile to my face, tears to my eyes, and a hope for the future.

Dianna Wara