The ceiling in Jessica Sharpe’s kitchen still sags.
There are cracks in her walls and the bathroom is still bubbling, a constant reminder of last year’s flood. A year ago Tuesday, Sharpe was doing her morning paper route when she noticed neighbours pumping out their basements.
“House after house after house,” she said. “It was a mess. It was devastating.”
It would be more than a week before the Sharpe’s learned their McIntosh Street home hadn’t been spared by the flood that hit more than a thousand houses and cost the city nearly $44 million.
In the meantime, the home became a makeshift first response centre for those in need after a Facebook page was set up.
What started as three barbeques on her lawn to give people a hot meal soon became an overflowing aid station. Her living room was packed with clothes and toys for neihgbourhood children.
“My tiny little porch was filled right up to the door,” she said. “It was so wonderful.”
Lisa French had been through the East End on her motorcycle the day after the flood.
“I saw the devastation,” she said. “I knew I had to do something.”
Like Sharpe, French saw a Facebook page looking to help those in need.
She and several others met at a coffee shop before heading to Sharpe’s to see what they could do.
After loading up a van with sandwiches and water to hand out to people, it soon became clear that the response had overwhelmed Sharpe’s house. After St. Peter’s Church opened its doors, a few people looking to help turned into a 24-hour-a-day operation over the next two weeks. French said the community response was incredible.
“It was just an absolutely amazing experience, just the heart of the people and just the way everybody came together it was so selfless of everyone,” she said.
A man who volunteered everyday turned out to be homeless himself, travelling by bus from the Salvation Army shelter. Another was waiting for a kidney transplant but still lent a hand, part of countless volunteers who staffed the church basement day and night as donations kept rolling in.
Once the Facebook page started being manned from the church, donation requests were being dropped off almost as soon as they were made. From mops to pet food, the community was there.
“It was just incredible how fast the community reacted,” French said.
A year later, some of those strangers who volunteered are now friends.
“I’m sure we’ll stay in touch forever,” French said.
For Sharp, her family home has still not recovered. Renovations are set to begin soon. She’s not alone.
“There are still quite a few people in need of help,” she said.
