LANSING | Gail Magsaysay and her family still haven't been able to move back into their flood-ravaged home in Munster.

Still, she and her daughter, Jill Magsaysay, were counting their blessings Saturday night as they and other flood victims came to dine on a complimentary turkey dinner as guests of the Trinity Lutheran Church and School, 2505 Indiana Ave., Lansing.

"It's just incredible," Gail Magsaysay said. "Just an outpouring of goodwill, and I feel really blessed. I feel like I wouldn't have made it without the outpouring of support."

She warmly hugged Sheryle Bozich, an outreach coordinator for the church, who was one of those extending the warm invitation to flood victims on a cool fall night.

Bozich, who lives in Munster, said she and other church members had extended an invitation to about 150 people and had hoped for even more participation.

"We have about 40 here tonight, and that's awesome," Bozich said.

Deborah Cundiff, of Munster, dining with her young children and a nephew, said she and her family are fortunate they were able to move back into their own home within three weeks after the mid-September floods.

She said she appreciated the home-cooked turkey dinner and the fellowship including a worship service prior to the meal.

"This is wonderful. ... It's been difficult but a blessing to see the groundswell of people who came forward to help the victims of the flood with meals, gift cards and child care. It's been life-changing," she said.

Cundiff said the kindness she and her family have received will be something she'll remember when she sees someone else go through an unfortunate situation.

"If something like this happens to someone else, I hope to pay it forward," she said.

Bill Szumelda and his mother, Carrie Szumelda, said they had been in their Munster home for only 18 months when a series of events, including a power outage, tornado and the floods, made them think they should have remained in Calumet City.

Their Munster house, which they've since moved back into, also was next to the house that exploded after the flood.

"We weren't in our house when it happened," Bill Szumelda said.

Both said they were touched by Trinity Lutheran members' generosity.

"It's a great thing for the people, what they're doing here tonight. We appreciate it very much," Carrie Szumelda said.

Gwen Bournes, of Calumet City, who came to the dinner with her daughter, Symone, a Trinity fifth-grader, said the floods destroyed many things she can never replace, including wedding and children's photos.

The bad situation was something she and her family couldn't avoid but have survived.

"It always seemed like it was something that would happen to someone else," she said.