Dear editor,

My friends and I would like to take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to all of you for your open hearts and helping hands during the recent ice storm. We found ourselves, along with hundreds of others, making our way down I-65 when we ran into the unexpected ice storm. After several harrowing hours in which we moved only inches at a time, we were able to make our way to the exit leading to Gardendale.

Needless to say, the hotels were booked solid and we thought we would be spending the night in one of the local restaurants. We were blessed to meet some fellow travelers and they told us that we would all be able to find refuge in your civic center. Luckily we met one of your local police officers who was kind enough to lead us to the center.

We, along with many other travelers, spent the next two days and nights in your splendid center. We are of the opinion that we couldn’t have been stranded in a better place. Your center is a beautiful facility and you should all be very proud that you have it in your community. We were taken care of royally.

When a note went out on Facebook, many, many people responded with food and bedding. They were willing to do this even though it meant going out in the terrible weather to bring it to us. We met some wonderful people during those two days. The staff at your center is so friendly and helpful and all the members of your community who stopped by to check on our care were appreciated.  We met some really great fellow travelers — it was like a camp out — I haven’t slept on the floor in a sleeping bag for about 50 years. It really made me appreciate sleeping in a bed.

You should be very proud of your beautiful city and the people who live there. From three friends, two from northeast Iowa and one from Kentucky, we will be forever grateful that we were blessed to find shelter in Gardendale.

Kathy Meyer, Inez Berns, Colleen Meyer