Beverly Mom Sets Up Free Phone Charging Station Amid Outages

CHICAGO (BEVERLY-MT. GREENWOOD) — A Beverly mom has set up a charging station in front of her house where neighbors can come by and charge their cell phones. The day after the storm, 4,300 residents were still without power the Beverly-Mount Greenwood area.

“People use their phones for everything. We’ve become so dependent on them, they’re like a second home” Amy Bristol Keleher said, who posted her kind offer on the Moms of Beverly Facebook group. “I use mine for a flashlight — everything. Not having power, you’re truly disconnected and that’s a horrible feeling.”

In front of her home in the 2000 block of West 102nd Street, Bristol Keleher has set up an inviting space in front of her home, with an umbrella and chairs spaced 6-feet apart for social distancing. She has also set out Lysol wipes so neighbors can sanitize their phones and seating area.

“I’m a nurse, so I’m covid crazy,” Bristol Keleher said. “I work on a covid unit, so I’ve seen what the virus can do. You don’t want it.”

Bristol Keleher and her husband moved to Beverly seven years ago from the northwest suburbs when his job transferred him to Indiana. At the time, Beverly seemed like a good compromise. Their new neighbors showed their famous South Side hospitality by welcoming the newbies with open arms.

“We didn’t know a lot about the neighborhood going in,” she said. “Neighbors started showing up at our door with food and complete meals. We thought, ‘this is amazing.’ I love this community. Everybody helps each other out.”

So far, it has been a fun day, Bristol Keleher said, with neighbors stopping by to charge their phones and walking around the neighborhood looking at tree damage. She was out buying ice and lemonade mix so people could enjoy a cool drink while charging their phones.

“My children are very excited about handing out lemonade,” Bristol Keleher said. “We wouldn’t think of charging anything for it.

Bristol Keleher said she’ll keep the charging station in her front yard for as long as it takes, which according to ComEd, may not be until Friday or Saturday when power is fully restored.

“We’re just trying to repay the kindness we were shown when first moved here,” she said. “There are all kinds of chargers out there.”