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Integrity Headlines
Integrity Employee Helps Family Devasted by Flood, Fire
PONTIAC - Michelle Wilder knows what it’s like to receive help from the community after a disaster.
“We actually had a house fire about three years ago where we basically had to gut the home to the studs,” the Bloomington resident said. “The outpouring from the community was remarkable and I always said that I would try to do it for someone else.”
Wilder read in The Pantagraph about the Risen family, whose Pontiac home was devastated by flood and then fire earlier this month.
She e-mailed her friends, and their resulting effort collected mattresses, beddings and appliances last week. A recliner, microwave and other items are expected to be delivered to the Risens today.
The outpouring of support for the Risen has drawn help from across the area and lifted the spirits of the family struggling to reestablish a routine home life.
“It has gotten to the point where everyone has taken really good care of us,” Phil Risen said. “Between the ( Pontiac Bible Church), the Red Cross, Michelle Wilder, and other businesses and people, the response has just fantastic.”
An anonymous landowner offered an apartment to Phil Risen, and his ex-wife with whom he shared the house, Celine Risen, received help from the American Red Cross of the Heartland for a temporary home. Their children will split their time between the two residences.
“My heart just bled for them because they didn’t have insurance or a job at the time.” Wilder said. “I just can’t imagine being displaced with no where to call home.”
The Risens lived in their home at 736 N. Main St. for 15 years until it was damaged by the Vermilion River flood from Jan. 9 to 12.
Phil and Celine Risen, and three of their children, Tony, 17, Caitlin, 16, and Kyle, 10, had to stay at the apartment of their eldest son, Derek, 20. The family went back to their home on Jan. 15.
Around 5:45 a.m. the next morning, Tony awoke to the smell of something burning. An electric heater apparently short-circuited in his bedroom.
The fire spread up the wall of the second-story room, damaging the room, an adjacent bedroom, the attic and the ceiling of the downstairs kitchen.
The house was not insured.
The Risens stayed the rest of that week at Super 8 Motel thanks to contributions from the Pontiac Bible Church.
As word of their situation spread, the response was “incredible,” Phil Risen said.
“We have had loads of different people and stores bringing us furniture, people writing us letters saying that they care and churches have actually been bringing us food every night,” Risen said. “When the lady offered us an apartment, she really saved my family’s life.”
Both Risens are looking for work. Wilder said she has not met the Risens, but she values the experience.
“It has been the biggest heartwarming experience to help them,” she said. “I don’t know if I will have the opportunity to ever meet them, but I know that they are grateful and their gratitude has just been the best thing.”
Integrity Headlines
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