Yesterday, PremierBank issued a press release alerting the public of its desire to help with cleanup efforts at Evergreen Cemetery. The space, often described by community members as similar in setting to a park, was struck by Friday night’s storm. Wind toppled many of the cemetery’s signature trees and left a huge cleanup job, and a need for money to help haul away debris and, looking to the future, replace some of the devastated greenery.
Today, A message from the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation (FACF), conveyed this:
This community really knows how to come together under tough circumstances. FACF has been lucky enough, thanks to our generous donors, to step in and offer help through community grants when disaster has struck before. And even though we wish things like the flood of 2008 or the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t happen, the way Fort Atkinson residents unite in these tough situations is a silver lining.
The terrible storm Fort experienced this past weekend is no different. We have been beaming with pride over how our community is showing up for one another. From help with cutting down trees, picking up brush, feeding each other, or a simple phone charge – neighbors helping neighbors is so wonderful to see.
After trying to figure out how we can best help during this time we were quickly inspired by our neighbor PremierBank and their generous offer to help the Evergreen Cemetery Association with their clean up and repair efforts. So, FACF will be matching up to $10,000 of PremierBank and community donations to the Evergreen Cemetery Fund.
If you would like to donate monetarily with a tax-deductible donation, you can write your check out to Evergreen Cemetery and drop off or mail to any PremierBank location. Or, donations can be mailed to: Evergreen Cemetery, c/o PremierBank P.O. Box 218, Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538. If you like your donations to be more hands-on, reach out to Evergreen Cemetery for volunteer cleanup times.
Thank you to every individual who has helped someone during this time – it’s what makes Fort great.
At Fort Atkinson Online, we like to say: All ships rise together. Perhaps the events of the last few days have also deepened our understanding that all hands on deck really turn the tide.
A view of Evergreen Cemetery after Friday’s storm. File photo/Chris Spangler.
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