MONMOUTH, IL – When Jason Robinson ’03 patrolled the gridiron as a linebacker for Monmouth College, he delivered more than one crushing blow to opposing ball carriers.
Robinson and his family were on the receiving end of such a blow last week when a hurricane-force wind storm caused massive destruction in Iowa, including Robinson’s home north of Mount Vernon.
Robinson, his wife, Kristen, a 2006 Monmouth alumna, and the couple’s three children escaped injury, but their home and surrounding land did not. More than 15 trees were downed on Robinson’s property, one landing on their house. It was just one of more than 80,000 homes damaged or destroyed by the storm, which equated to a Category 2 hurricane in some areas.
One can imagine the feeling of being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the destruction inflicted by the straight-line wind storm, which is known as a derecho. Power lines down, no electricity and holes in the roof needing immediate patching to stem the damage inside were just some of the concerns. Then there’s the uncertainty of just how the Robinsons were going to cope with all the work that needed to be done, and done quickly.
“By Day 5 post-storm I was overwhelmed,” admitted Kristen. “Overwhelmed with gratitude that my family was all safe. Overwhelmed with the thought of the home repairs that needed to be done immediately. Overwhelmed looking out at the trees that needed to be cut and removed. Overwhelmed with survivor’s guilt knowing that so many had much worse damage than us. Overwhelmed with wanting to help every single person, but also being just flat out exhausted.”
That’s where the Robinsons’ Monmouth College connection took hold.
The couple met and courted while students at Monmouth, eventually marrying in Monmouth at the Maple City Baptist Church, the same church Jason’s defensive coach, Chad Braun, attended. Kristen reached out to the church’s pastor, Mike Blake – also a volunteer assistant for Braun, who is now the head coach – and netted immediate results.
“In a matter of 24 hours, the body of Christ assembled trucks, trailers, chainsaws, money, food, drinks and a bunch of willing servants to come to Iowa and to literally be the hands and feet of Jesus to people they have never even met,” explained Kristen of her Monday plea for help to a church family and community they had embraced nearly 20 years ago. “I am still in awe of it all.”
By the time the Monmouth volunteers arrived, power had been restored to the Robinsons’ home, just north of Midwest Conference rival Cornell College. In two days, the team of more than a dozen volunteers, including Braun and his eldest son, Silas, cleared trees, brush and made repairs wherever needed, and there was much need.
“That’s the closest thing I’ve ever seen to a war zone,” reported Braun after finishing at the Robinsons’ home and moving on to Cedar Rapids. “You couldn’t go a block without a downed tree and debris piled everywhere. Some places still don’t have power 10 days later. It was just unbelievable, utter devastation.”
Thanks to the connections the Robinsons made as undergraduate students at Monmouth, their exhaustion is slowly subsiding, softened by the efforts of those from their college hometown and the lifelong connections made during those growing, nurturing college years. For that, the Robinson clan is forever grateful.
“We love you all and cannot even begin to express our gratitude,” said Kristen. “You blessed our family and many other families. And thank you to all the wives and moms who held down the fort back in Illinois.”
***Story courtesy of Monmouth College***
