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A local group of volunteers is hard at work helping a number of families who have been displaced from their homes for three years as a result of the devastating tornado that struck the community on Father’s Day 2021. The tornado, which demolished 900 structures, downed thousands of trees and caused 11 injuries to the Naperville, Woodridge, Darien, Burr Ridge and Willow Springs communities, has had an unfortunate lasting impact on some residents of the Woodridge County Club condominium complex. Woodridge Neighbors Helping Neighbors Disaster Recovery, a nonprofit formed just two months after the event, has been providing compassion and service through the long-term disaster recovery process.

To date, the group has sponsored 60 fundraisers for the families. The next fundraiser, The Doin’ Good BBQ, will be held at 6 p.m.



Wednesday at Seven Bridges Golf Club, 1 Mulligan Drive, Woodridge. The cost is $75, which includes BBQ, entertainment and auction. Due to a “culmination of issues,” some residents haven’t had the appropriate repairs done to allow them to return to their homes, said Woodridge Mayor Gina Cunningham.

One of the residents who is still displaced, Maria Rivas, has lived in Woodridge County Club condominiums for more than 25 years. “For the first two years, I stayed with a friend. However, over the last year, I have jumped from family to friends back to family, every 15 days,” Rivas said.

“So that I don’t become a burden on anybody, I feel like I have .

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