Tinley Groups Help Cushion Fall After Woman Takes Leap of Faith From Burning Building

It’s refreshing to know that people care about others in times of tragedy, even if those victims don’t live within the community.

When the failed after everything she owned literally went up in smoke, two Tinley Park groups— and —stepped up to lend a hand. of her burning apartment building Sept. 11, she said.

She now has nowhere to live and for some time, had nothing to wear. The 27-year-old former certified nursing assistant initially went to the , where she was asked to provide documentation she no longer had. She and her two daughters were desperately in need.

Officials from the township later apologized for not being more helpful, , and gave her more than $1,000 to make up for it.

She has since received bags of clothes from her children’s school, gas cards, food and other valuable supplies from groups in and yes, your very own Tinley Park, she said Wednesday.

“People have really been stepping out and doing a lot for the children,” Christianna said. “I can’t tell you how much it means to us.”

She and her daughters have been going to services at Christian Life Center, 6363 183rd St., for about six months.

When the pastor heard what happened, he gathered clothing donations and a $250 Visa gift card with help from Together We Cope, she said.

Let's keep in mind that Chicago Heights is outside of the agencies four-township service area of Bremen, Palos, Orland and Worth.

“(The pastor) just told us, ‘If there’s anything else that I can do for you or your children … Call anytime,” Christianna said.

I’m glad Christianna had the courage to jump from that window, and that her daughters weren’t home at the time of the fire. Asked if she was injured, Christianna said she thanks God that she only “scratched her nail polish.”

Let’s keep people like Christianna in our thoughts and remember that a little goes a long way—in this case, to Chicago Heights and beyond.

Christianna is still looking for a home. If you have any tips or ways to help her, please send an email to mscarrell@gmail.com or give her a call at 708-638-6204.

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