file photo Boyd Loving
Ridgewood family offers gratitude for support
JANUARY 2, 2015
Family offers gratitude for help
The Imbruglia family
Ridgewood
To the Editor:
My family and I would like to offer our most heartfelt gratitude for the support that has been shown to us during these difficult days since our house fire on the day after Thanksgiving. Living in Ridgewood for over 20 years, we have always known our community to be extremely special and we now know just how blessed we are to be counted among you.
In the bleary-eyed days after our fire, my family was deeply touched by people dropping off gift cards, bags of bedding, clothing and necessities, hugging us, crying with us, and offering anything to help ease our losses. These were not empty gestures, the concern and the tears in their eyes helped us realize we were not alone and had the support of an entire community – whether close friends, I taught their child, or we see each other in the supermarket. My family knows now, more than ever, what an exceptional community we have and how lucky we are to be among such gracious and caring people.
We know we are incredibly blessed to have been shown such kindness and concern. Whether people cooked and delivered a meal, brought much-needed clothing, donated a gift card, treated our dog to a toy she lost, or just hugged me and cried with me on our dear friends’ porch, please know that none of us will ever forget what was done to help ease our transition through this turmoil. We will continue to pay this kindness forward and continue to support community members in need, in the ways that have bolstered us, whether it was through RHS Cares, Benjamin Franklin Home & School Association, Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital, BF staff (where I am lucky enough to work!), Ridgewood Lacrosse Association (which replaced equipment for my son so that he could play that weekend!) or through an individual gesture.