GREAT PEOPLE. GREAT WORK.

Hello All,

For the last few weeks I have been busy with our tornado response team that is fully engaged in Washington, Illinois.  It is estimated that last months storms left behind close to 2,500 damaged homes, with a great deal of them, perhaps 1,000, completely destroyed. 

On Thanksgiving, I had a father and his 10 year old son drive up to the homesite I was working at in the middle of all the carnage.  The two of them were complete strangers to me.  There wasn't another soul in site.  They rolled down the window and asked me if I was hungry.  The next thing I knew, they brought Thanksgiving dinner right to my work site.  Including all the fixings!  It was surreal, unreal, and heartwarming.  It was a Thanksgiving I will never ever forget. 

Finally, just yesterday my good pal Frank came down from Chicago.  He brought along with him two of his incredible coworkers, Lindsay and Trent, to join forces with our response team here in Washington.  This turned into one of those days/memories that I will hang my hat on for years to come.  Great people. Great work.  Great time.  All in an effort to help a community recover.  Thanks for everything Frank, Lindsay, Trent, and Sam Adams!  You all were rockstars!

 If we can get lucky and hold off that midwest winter and its snow a bit longer, we will continue our efforts here in Washington.  Wish us luck!

Mark/Chops

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS SHORTLY AFTER THE F4 TORNADO HIT

DAY ONE OF DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS

THANKSGIVING MORNING ABOUT TO SEARCH THROUGH DEBRIS FOR MEMORIES

CAUGHT UP WITH MY PAL MIKE FOR A FEW HOURS ON THANKSGIVING.  CONGRATS TO YOU AND ASHLEY ON THE ENGAGEMENT AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME OVER!

BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL REUNION WITH FRANK.  REPRESENTING THE VERY TOP AND BOTTOM OF OUR CLASS RANKINGS.  I'LL LET YOU GUESS WHICH END I WAS ON

TEAMING UP WITH FRANK TO GUT A HOUSE

TRENT, FRANK, AND LINDSAY FROM SAM ADAMS CAME OUT AND DOMINATED WITH SOME OF OUR REGULARS, JOSH AND IRV!

ONE OF OUR INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS WORKING IN THE BITTER COLD.  FOUND OUR HOMEOWNER'S BAR OF SILVER UNDER THE RUBBLE!

WASHINGTON SWEATSHIRT IMPALED PERFECTLY TO A TREE IN WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS

RUNNING A HUGE CREW OF INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS

FRANK THE TANK WORKING HARD!

TAKING A BREATHER FROM DEMOLITION WITH TRENT!

MS. SAM ADAMS AKA LINDSAY, THE ONE WOMAN WRECKING CREW!