Yesterday was Sunday FunDay in Emerald City (Totally Kids fun furniture & toys.)
Typically on Sundays we are joined by a store full of families stopping by for shopping plus fun and games.
There is an on going hula hoop challenge, hands on test and play area, football toss championship, registration for an extreme ride on car giveaway and a count the lollipops in the jar contest. Always animal crackers for the kiddos and a hot cup of coffee and ginger snaps for adults. If your Toto is joining us, there are dog treats for our canine friends too.
The weekend brought one storm cell after another resulting in two days of threatening skies. So, okay, there was rain in the form of very heavy downpours, but the show must go on, right?
Megan, first to arrive, discovered no lights, aka a power outage which we later learned had even affected the airport. The power luckily was quickly restored (possibly because we are so close to the airport) and we all continued with business as usual.
But, where are all of our guests?
Sidebar: Glinda the Good Witch of the South of us (Annette) reported that from her observation of the few folks that did drop by, the well-behaved (Munchkins) children stayed home yesterday. Our staff scarecrow, lion and tin man were checking the yellow bent signs.
It was not until driving home that I learned of a severe tornado touchdown in North Minneapolis. We heard no warning sirens and no one even mentioned or called to inform any of us of possible danger.
Several rotating supercells spawning a few tornadoes touched down across the Minneapolis area on Sunday afternoon. The tornado or tornadoes tore roofs off buildings, downed power lines and toppled trees blocking streets. Early reports estimated the tornado touched down for around 30 minutes across the metro area. The Associated Press reported one person was killed, 30 others hurt and at least 100 homes were damaged by the storm.
Last night a curfew was imposed in the stricken area and 7 schools are closed today.
How can we help?
A fund has been set up for the public to help in the disaster recovery. The Minnesota Helps North Minneapolis Recovery Fund aims to assist with both short-term and long-term housing and recovery-related needs on the north side. To make a donation by credit card, visit www.GiveMN.org or send checks for the recovery effort to:
The Minneapolis Foundation
80 S. 8th St., Suite 800
Minneapolis, MN, 55402
You can also donate to the Red Cross at www.redcrosstc.org
Cub Foods to Host BBQ for North Minneapolis Tornado Victims tonight at 5PM at 701 W. Broadway . The food was donated by Cub Foods, General Mills, Kemps, Oscar Meyer, Jerry’s Enterprise and Pan-O-Gold Bakery.
For up-to-date information about North Minneapolis clean-up needs & activities, please visit UHW’s Facebook page.
Tuesday, May 24
The Club will be open to families to have a meal. Lunch at Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club from 1-4 today.
2410 Irving Ave. N in Minneapolis
El-Amin’s Fish House (2221 West Broadway) will be serving food from 2-6pm. Free meals served to all affected by the tornado. Please also bring non-perishable food items or monetary donations for families in need.
Kids Closet offers free childrens clothing. You can come and shop on Thursday for free clothing for your children if you are in need.
