ROCK VALLEY, IOWA (KELO) — It’s been a week since a flood destroyed over 100 homes in Rock Valley. Because of this, volunteers in surrounding communities are helping where they can. In Sioux Center, the laundromat and volunteers are helping people with their laundry needs. The past few days, people affected by the flood were able to go there to do their laundry.
“We gave people free quarters to do laundry during that time. We have to also educate them about how to clean flood damaged laundry,” laundry volunteer Judy Hauswald said.
They also are helping people from directly inside Rock Valley.
/>“We partnered with some Sioux Center churches and they were able to find volunteers who are willing to do people’s everyday laundry in their home. So that’s going on through the weekend. And then we’re going to reassess and see if people still need that service,” Hauswald said.
And while a lot of neighboring communities are helping the city, they also have people coming from across the nation to help.
Mercy Chefs, which is based out of Virginia, is in town to help feed the community.
“So today we’re serving 5000 meals and we’re going to stay in this area for as long as the need for food after these disasters remains,” Mercy Chefs, Raymond LeBlanc said.
While they aren’t from the area, they want to do anything they can for those affected by the flood.
“As we drove in, we saw fields of crops that were just destroyed from these floods. People’s homes are absolutely destroyed. Basement walls are caved in and and people are struggling. And we’re here just to provide some sense of normalcy through these beautiful meals,” LeBlanc said.
As people from across the nation come together to help the city.
Click here for more information on the laundry services.
Click here for more information on Mercy Chefs.