Love for Lori
As evidenced by the Ed McLaughlin saga, these have been tough times for bicyclists in Chico. Another special member of our community, Lori Niles, had a bicycle mishap as well, late last year. Lori's accident isn't as simple to explain as Ed's and her injuries, although very serious, are not as severe. Lori's circumstance is a bittersweet example of why this community is so wonderful as well as another instance wherein our system of healthcare and insurance falls short in serving people when they need it most.
A local for decades, Lori's roots run deep in Chico. She's a leader in the Slow Food movement, a volunteer programmer at KZFR Community Radio, and one of the brightest, most compassionate and giving humans you'd ever want to meet. Since she has no private health insurance her accident has left her with some serious medical bills, as well as a long rehabilitation road ahead.
Last Sunday evening (1/13) there was a fundraiser to benefit Lori at ARC's Park Tower Pavilion. The place overflowed with three of the best things in this community, great food, great music and great people there to show their love for Lori.
Lori works as a waitress at Red Tavern. When she stood at the microphone to address the gathering, she shared with us her experience on the job when people come from out of town, often to check out Chico State as a potential academic destination. "What's so great about this place?" they ask. In describing how she answers the question, Lori recited the usual litany of things with which we are so richly blessed, then after a pause to hold back tears, she said simply, "the community."
Her words, spoken with such heart and sincerity on this evening, settled over the room and filled our hearts. I could think of no better place to call home, nor a more worthy place to define as "community." Thank you Lori.