Comments on: LETTER: Goderich tornado victim wonders if town cares about people or trees

By: Kim Brindley

Kim Brindley — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:46:33 +0000

Jon and I appreciate all of your kind comments. As far as the negative ones I will not take personally because unless you are living our life and seeing all of the paperwork then you can even make true judgements.
Thanks for your support and it is nice to see that there are others out their who care.

By: Carolyn Parks Mintz

Carolyn Parks Mintz — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:56:00 +0000

Societies are judged by how they treat the most vulnerable in their midst — regardless of circumstance. Caring people are a blessing. Some others, not so much. I’ll watch for the BIG fundraiser that I hope develops for the Brindleys — and contribute regardless. (PS: I am aware of some of the truly unsavoury aspects of what has happened to this family … and they aren’t pretty.)

By: lisa

lisa — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 07:01:38 +0000

Who care about what side of the story!!!! Just help this family for the love of God…. they sure need a home to live in and not be paying for something that was out of their control…. I really hope you get your home back and fixed or rebuild. I’m so sorry for the rudeness of others.

By: Joe Switzer

Joe Switzer — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 04:08:59 +0000

I don’t know enough about the specifics of this situation to comment on it but here’s a thought. There have been benefit dances for people that have lost their house to fire etc. Someone should contact the Knights of Columbus or Lions club. Get a venue and someone with SmartServe. Charge a cover and run some games like “Guess how much crappy tire money in the jar” etc and charge for drinks. Maybe even get a band. Anyone that wants to come and give support can, and those who don’t can stay home. This isn’t a solution but I’m sure the family could use a few hundred bucks to pay lawyers fees or put food on the table.

By: Heather Boa

Heather Boa — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:59:55 +0000

For clarification, $4 million was raised for the Goderich and Area disaster relief fund, in a program that would see those dollars matched by up to 2:1 from the province. That $4 million has been dispersed to people, businesses and organizations that suffered loss in the tornado. The fund paid up to 90 per cent of costs that were not covered after insurance claims were settled in order to replace what was there at the time of the tornado, based on criteria established by the province. Of 373 claim files, there are seven that have not been dealt with for various reasons.

By: Jen Tucker

Jen Tucker — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:04:56 +0000

Reg, Kim isn’t asking for the money all to herself she is asking other families to come forward so that ALL the families / people still affected can be helped FINALLY and not have to wait and wonder anymore.

By: Connie

Connie — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 01:04:42 +0000

I am in utter dismay with the negative comments towards a family who is in need. I fully understand how Kim and her family feel not being able to live in their “home.” I had a house fire and yes my insurance company did help out but definitely not the way I believed an insurance company would help out. Its not all sunshine with the paperwork and time spent on figuring out what you had and didn’t have (including having to price everything.) I understand where Kim is coming from. It is hard to keep a family together when you don’t know where you’re going to live until things happen, where you’re going to get money to buy what you need, and definitely don’t know what will happen as time moves on. All Kim is asking is where did this money go (which everyone who donated should be asking since there was a committee who was dividing this money out.) Why can’t someone, who is in discussions with their insurance company, have some help and when they get the money from their insurance company, pay back the donation. It makes sense to me and I’m sure Kim would agree as well. Anything to help her and her family get back into their real home is what the committee should be doing. I guess like most people say, until you’ve stepped into another person’s shoes do you realize what they are going through. I wish Kim and her family all the love and support for everything they are going through. I want to help in any way I can–if Kim needs someone to talk to, be there when she’s trying to go through paperwork, or even just to look after her children so she can take a break, I will do that for her.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:22:09 +0000

WOW…..I am absolutely ASHAMED to come from a community that has so many nasty and hurtful things to say about a situation they know NOTHING about!! I donated MY money, raised money, collected donations of food, clothing, toys, personal hygiene products, food for animals, bought paper plates, napkins, plastic cutlery and cups for use at K of C centre, and collected medical supplies from a medical office in Toronto to help those that were in need!! I am angry that money that I DONATED (my own hard earned wages) and money that was given to me by others from across the Kitchener/Waterloo region and the GTA region has went to landscaping! That money was given freely to help the people of Goderich in rebuilding their lives and gaining some sense of a normalcy, NOT to be going towards trees, gazebos, water fountains, lights and ashphalt!
Kim Brindley and Family, I stand behind you and I will do what I can to help you and any other families that are also affected. To those that are voicing their hurtful, snide and nasty remarks….you should be totally ashamed of yourselves, because if it is was you or your family things, would be different wouldn’t it?? Step up and help out or keep you opinions to yourself!!!

Terra, you are doing a great job in trying to help keep it up!!

By: Elaine Smith

Elaine Smith — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:46:44 +0000

I believe that if your going to make snide/negative remarks about the Brindley family, for you to be man/woman enough to identify yourselfs. Amazing how the folks wanting to help are willing to give their full names and were they live. Hiding your name is a cowardly act!!

By: Kylie Hulley

Kylie Hulley — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:33:40 +0000

I am just wondering…What has the town done for her?? She is not “homeless” per say…. she is renting and paying a mortgage….. I myself was unable to receive help from the relief fund because there was a deadline to apply (which I didn’t know) and we didn’t realize the extent of the damage to our home until about six months later…. which we were told is common when there are structural issues. I did thousands of dollars in fund-raising for the relief fund!! Our insurance company didn’t cover near the amount they should have!!!! I couldn’t afford a lawyer to go to court either! I haven’t had any help from the town of Goderich…. Doesn’t mean that I don’t want to live here… Government programs are also hard to apply for and receive and could take months if not at least a year to receive…if they qualify. How about giving your full identity Marilyn… state where you have got your info from as to what Goderich has done for her and her family. I am sure she is speaking on behalf of her husband as well which is what happens in most cases!!! Which is what I am doing right now for my husband (Steve) There are always 2 sides to every story… I do agree with that… but I can attest that my insurance company wouldn’t tell the entire truth to my situation if they decided to come forward!!!! I am wondering Marilyn… did you have damage to your home? Did anyone in your family have damage to their home??? What would you know about the problems that Kim and her family have or are facing and when they should face them? You should be ashamed of yourself for trying to kick this family when they are already down!!!