Community in the Cold

Photo credit: Jessie Jaynes-Diming

A message from Jessie Jaynes-Diming

During the recent winter storm, a family member texted to check on me and said, “You thought you had left Chicago.”

But these past two weeks in Tallahatchie County only reaffirmed why I chose to make my home here.

I was without power for a short time, but my granddaughter and her family stayed with me much longer—without water for days, power only recently restored, and pipes damaged at their home. Across the county, families sheltered together wherever they could. Some communities were hit harder than others, with outages uneven and, in places, prolonged.

What stayed with me most wasn’t the disruption—it was the response. Neighbors checking on neighbors. Families calling to offer help. Communities rallying to make sure no one was left alone in the cold.

In the midst of a hard moment, that spirit of care and solidarity was the blessing—and a reminder of the strength rooted in this place.