I write this letter to attempt to say thank you to everyone who helped us battle the Crow Wing River last week. We appreciated every call we got showing concern or offering some type of help. Staples is a caring community-a village, if you will-and the concern shown to us made the flooding of our home a little easier to deal with.

I need to thank a few individuals for going above and beyond the call of duty. First, a huge thank you to Phil Bjerga for showing up Wednesday night, only minutes after I called. Lack of preparation on my part should not constitute an emergency on yours... yet you arrived with just that mind-set, and built me what looked to be an impenetrable barrier. Thank you for risking your equipment to drive out through three feet of water. I also appreciated you showing up the next day to help us "fight the battle", by slinging sand bags, running pumps and doing whatever was needed.

Another individual who I need to thank is my neighbor, Leroy Hamberg. Thank you for the use of your boat, pumps and for helping fill and haul sand bags, even while you had your own basement to think about. From the day I moved in over five years ago, you have been the consummate neighbor-offering help in a thousand different ways. You are a hero to my children and deservedly so.

A huge thank you to Brad Anderson and Mark Forsberg, who both took a day off of work to come out and help save my housewithout ever being asked. To watch all of our hard work erased in 10 minutes was hard to accept, but it did nothing to diminish the effort...and what an effort. The fact that our sand bags got to travel by both boat and Jeep before they did any good, made the job an enormous one. I made the mistake of underestimating the power of the river...I won't make that mistake again. Thanks for being there, both of you. It meant a lot.

Thank you to the Staples Fire Department for showing up at the new boat landing. The fact that you showed up to help-25 strong-was overwhelming. I wished I had reached out earlier. Along those same lines I owe a big thank you to the Cass County Sheriff's department for all the help bagging and delivering the sand bags. I never got your names, but I appreciated the effort you gave and the boat (with a motor) you provided.

Although its tough at a time like this, we are focused on the positive-not every kid gets to take a boat ride on the way to school. The only way we can repay all the help is in kind. We won't forget when that opportunity presents itself.

Duff Erholtz and Family Staples, Minn.

We will always remember March 26, 2009, not only because of the rising waters by The Vintage golf course, but for the generosity of the Staples Fire Department and volunteers, Mr. Lindgren, Mr. Mattila and all the high school students, friends, neighbors and relatives who came to our home to help us.

You came with your shovels and muscles and you all were troopers filling the sand bags and stacking them around the house to protect us from the rising river. There are not enough words that can express the kindness and thoughtfulness you gave that day and the phone calls that continue to check and see if we need anything. We will never forget what you all did and thank you from our hearts.

God bless you all.

Roger and Kim Braith Staples, Minn.

We would like to thank the Staples Fire Department, friends, family and the community for all your support that we have received during this flood. It was truly amazing to see all the people that were helping with the sandbagging at our place and numerous others. We deeply appreciate all of your help.

James and Margaret Kenyon and Family Staples, Minn.

We would like to thank everyone for all of the help that we received for sandbagging around our home. Wow! What a community we live in. It was overwhelming to see all of the people coming down our driveway to pitch in and help in whatever way they could.

The word for help needed must have spread fast. Our community is very lucky to have so many people that will drop everything and go to help someone in need.

A very special thanks to the Staples Fire Department. They went from one sandbagging place to the next and made it to everyone that asked. They went from Wahoo to Motley and from morning to late at night.

Thank you very much to our friends, family and neighbors from both sides of the river. To Gene Mattila and the high school students, Warren Mertens and his students, Central Lakes College students, the Wadena County Sheriff and his department, coworkers and their families, fellow Lions, The Vintage golf course for equipment use and everyone else we missed.

Thank you and God bless you.

Scott and Jean Odden Staples, Minn.

We would like to take a moment and thank all those who volunteered to help sand bag Wahoo Valley last week. From Scott Braith and the Staples Fire Department who suggested it and told us who to call, to the students and staff of Staples Motley High School and CLC, all the friends and neighbors who showed up and JL Trucking for getting the sand to us. We were rookies at sandbagging so thank you to anyone who offered advice or expertise.

We are so grateful to be a part of such a caring and generous community and its times like this that restore your faith in human kindness.

Thank you again everyone.

John, Sharon and Ryan Long Owner/Operators Wahoo Valley Bar & Grill

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our neighbors, the Staples Volunteer Fire Department, our friends and family, Staples Motley High School students and teachers, the Wadena County Sheriff's Department, and the many other volunteers who lent a hand (and their backs) to sand bag our house last Thursday. The way everyone pulled together in our time of need was amazing and we are grateful and blessed for the security and safety you've given to us and our home.

Bob Stracek, Nicole and Christian Scheler