This is a love letter to our community.
My husband died suddenly and without warning while we were away on a family vacation. We were a family of six leaving for vacation and came back one less. Our girls ages 12,13,16 and 20 lives were changed in a matter of a few hours. There is no describing the sheer pain of our loss.
The days after were just a blur. I was concerned about my children going forward and needed the schools to be aware.
A good friend worked in the school district and stated she will email all the schools Within minutes the new high school principal of Mineola ,(Rory Parnell) whom I haven’t met before, called me on New Year’s Eve and told me she would make sure the kids are okay.
Just knowing that the girls would be watched over took a huge load off of my mind.
Rory Parnell has not only looked after the girls, but she also went out of her way to check in on me. She is a beacon of light within our community and for that I am grateful.
All the teachers and staff of Mineola have gone above and beyond their job descriptions for our family. Ms buongiovanni (art teacher of Mineola) and her colleagues threw a paint night fundraiser for our family in which the community came out in full force.
Our neighbors did a collection for our family and provided not only monetary support but also emotional support. A meal train was made for our family in which friends and strangers fed my family for months when I could barely function.
My friends (all community members) sat with me, held my hand, helped plan the services and just listened all hours of the day and night, I am forever grateful. I wanted to write this because thank you didn’t seem like enough for everything my friends, family, strangers and school district has done for our family.
Because of you, our girls didn’t miss out on still participating in their sports, still was able to get lunch with their friends and afford new shoes when needed.
They were able to have normalcy in the chaos. Because of you, I am still here taking on each day knowing I have support and love if it doesn’t go as planned. Thank you to the MAA for sponsoring my daughter’s softball fees.
Thank you to Mineola Dads Club, Friends who give, Mineola Booster Club, Tulum Tacos and Tequila and Corpus Christi’s CYO basketball for your generous donation.
Thank you to the families who donated money, sent gift cards or just prayed for us and with us. Thank you to East Meadow Soccer club for waiving the fees so our daughter can continue playing the sport she truly loves. If I missed mentioning someone, I am sorry but thank you.
I never fully realized what it meant when people say “it takes a village” until the village shows up at your door and offers help, support, prayers and love.
I am so grateful that we reside in this beautiful town with great schools, wonderful organizations and beautiful people. A village we are happy to call home. Thank you Mineola!
