An Update
I don't usually share my personal life here, but over the past week, many of you have reached out after seeing photos and videos of the damage to our home and van that folks shared across social media and in local news coverage following last week's storm.
Those photos captured a moment.
My family is still living the aftermath.
Like so many others across Evanston, we're in the early stages of recovery. Two massive trees fell, causing significant damage to our home and crushing our van, with our family business inside. This has been a disastrous blow for us.
Along with your kind words, many of you have asked how you can help my family.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about that question.
I keep coming back to 611.
Help us move 611 beyond month-to-month and into a permanent resource.
Across our community, families are still trying to recover. Many of the people who shop at 611 are dealing with damaged homes, food lost during power outages, transportation challenges, and unexpected expenses, all while trying to keep up with everyday life. Recovery isn't always as simple as filing an insurance claim or replacing what's been lost.
You may have noticed that August looks a little different. The calendar went out later than usual. Shopping appointments opened later than usual. The first half of the month is lighter than we had planned.
That's because, behind the scenes, I've been balancing my home while continuing to build 611.
Shopping appointments opened yesterday, and we're already nearly full for August.
Life doesn't pause when disaster strikes. Families still need laundry detergent. Toilet paper. Food. Cleaning supplies. School clothes. A place where someone says, "Welcome in."
Neither does 611.
611 is the only resource of its kind in Evanston, with unnecessary barriers like residency requirements removed. We're located in South Evanston, where similar resources don't even exist, filling an important gap in services in one of the most densely populated parts of town.
If you'd like to help us move 611 beyond month-to-month, please consider making a donation today. The biggest step we can take right now is building a strong base of recurring donors and larger gifts. That's what gives us the stability to stop thinking month-to-month and start building for years ahead.
Thank you for every message, every phone call, every offer of help, and every kindness you've shown my family over the past week.
We're still living the aftermath.
And we're still showing up.
I hope you'll keep showing up with us.
-Fuschia
Founding Director
611 Collective
