Crawfordsville news: Helping Cedar Rapids

Friends and family enjoyed an evening of entertainment on Wednesday evening, Aug. 5, 2020 at Brenda Edgar's 'So Dear to my Heart Bed and Breakfast.”

'Pasadena Playboys' from Tennessee presented a live traditional and retro-country music show much to everyone's enjoyment. It was held outside in front of one of her barns and they played from a hayrack stage. Guests brought lawn chairs and their own refreshments and had plenty of room to social distance and enjoy the beautiful cool evening. In fact, it was really chilly, which is rare in Iowa in August.

The group contacted Brenda a month before as they were making their way across the United States on their way back to Tennessee, which is home base. They had Googled B&B's in Iowa and found hers to be one of the best. They were very appreciative for all she was doing for them while here. They were on their way to Minnesota to visit a family member and perform there before heading back.

Derecho of last week left most of Cedar Rapids and the surrounding areas without power, food and some loss of homes.

Jason Collier, Pastor of the Crawfordsville and Ainsworth churches learned about the widespread damage and on Tuesday and Wednesday, he and several others from Crawfordsville, Ainsworth and some from Washington went to aid in clean-up of debris, downed trees and remnants of houses. What they witnessed was catastrophic. There were many in low income apartments that were inhabitable. There are no places to rent and some were living in tents in their backyards with no power, nowhere to go and nothing to do. They drove over hundreds of downed power lines. It was good for GPS, as there were hardly any street or stop signs visible and no working stop lights.

Jason has been to every corner of Cedar Rapids and lots of places in between and hasn't seen a single property that doesn't have damage---tree, wind or water! There were semis blown over. Since most of the city is getting all the attention he is sure the rural folks will need help also. Locals passed out water, gas cards and food to those affected.

He wasn't there on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, but went back up Sunday with a group mainly from the Ainsworth Church. They helped with whatever was needed and also provided food. The United Methodist Church in town had two trailers with chain saws and safety equipment and tarps, etc. for roofs.

He is continuing to help and wants people to know that everyone here is just showing love to people and reminding them God loves them and they are not alone. It makes a big difference when people are sitting in the dark for six or seven days and someone shows up and tells them they are loved. Jason and all his people are putting all their words into action and that means a lot! He will continue to work as long as there is a need to help communities recover.

What a wonderful witness Jason is!

I know many in Crawfordsville and the surrounding areas have family members living up there have some sort of loss.