PEORIA (HOI) -- A year ago Wednesday, the Port of Beirut explosion devastated the Lebanese community, thousands of whom live in Central Illinois. Now, they watch on as thousands more march the streets of Beirut in protest.
"It makes me so sad. I cry most of the time when I see how my country has turned this way," local storeowner Albert Couri said.
Couri is a member of Peoria's Itoo Society - group founded in 1914 by Lebanese immigrants that focuses on providing relief to families.
"It was to help each other in times of need," Itoo Society historian Randy Couri said. "The goals of the Society were also to help the people of Peoria where they could, and to help them understand the Lebanese people and how we can all get along."
Albert Couri came back from a visit to Lebanon earlier this week. He says the economy is in ruins, brought on by a poor government response to last year's bombing.
The Itoo Society has a few events this summer to help raise money and awareness.
"We've had no government function for almost a year … People are starving. We don't have electricity, we don't have medicine, we don't have gas," Albert Couri said.
The Peoria Riverfront Museum is unveiling a special exhibition in December known as "Peoria to Lebanon".
It will feature the work of contemporary Lebanese artists, and proceeds from an auction will go toward the relief effort.
"The significant number of Americans living in central Illinois - whose family members and ancestors have come from Lebanon - really makes this a special opportunity," Riverfront Museum president John D. Morris said.
Itoo Society leaders say it will take years for their home country to recover.
"When I came from Lebanon, I said 'I'm lucky.' God bless this country," Albert Couri said.
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One year later, local Lebanese community remembers Port of Beirut explosion - HOI ABC
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