Donations exceed $7K for Cedar Lake family

MUNSTER | From now on, when people ask Christopher Rekitzke where he's from, he's going to answer, "Northwest Indiana" instead of his usual "south side of Chicago."

It's true the Cedar Lake resident has Illinois roots, but the outpouring of support from strangers in Northwest Indiana after fire heavily damaged his family's home has helped him embrace his Indiana neighbors.

"Northwest Indiana has got a real special place in my heart," he said. "I can't do enough to thank this community."

Rekitzke is on leave from his position with the Army National Guard in Iraq, helping his wife and four children pick up the pieces after an accidental fire destroyed their home earlier this month. He is scheduled to return to Iraq on Friday.

Hours after the family learned Monday that the house will have to be demolished, they received some good news. Times Publisher Bill Masterson Jr. and Peoples Bank Executive Vice President John Diederich presented the family with a check for $7,250.

Donations to the family arrived at 10 of the 11 Peoples Bank locations in the area, from East Chicago to Valparaiso, Diederich said. Another $200 cash donation arrived at The Times Crown Point office Monday and was deposited in the family's fund.

The family -- staying with relatives in the wake of the fire -- was grateful.

"Each day that goes by, I think I'm more and more surprised," Annie Rekitzke said.

"We'll never be able to express our gratitude enough," Christopher Rekitzke said.

He credited his wife's strength for keeping the family together during their hardship.

"She's the backbone," he said. "I'm just the muscle."

Masterson lauded the community's support

"I think it reveals the true character of Northwest Indiana," he said. "When there's a crisis, and someone is in trouble, we will come to their aid."

Donations for the Rekitzke family still are being accepted at Peoples Bank branches throughout the region.