Influencer Keith Lee holds massive storm relief giveaway for residents in Gary, Indiana

One of the darkest stretches in Northwest Indiana got a little brighter on Monday.

A massive giveaway was held to help many of the residents who are still in the dark.

"I tell every vendor that we been going up to how grateful and thankful we are for them," said resident Sonji Williams.

A grateful Gary, appreciative of the lifelines of food and household items given away by the truckload on Monday. Thousands lined up for everything from food to household essentials, all in an effort to get life back on track. 

They lined up 13 days after Mother Nature tore up power lines and any sense of normalcy. For the thousands who remain in the dark and feel isolated, the giveaway helped. 

"We thought we were forgotten about and it's taken them so long to help us," said resident Willette Wright.

Wright points the finger at a power company that she says let trees get too big in critical areas of Gary — saying NIPSCO has not kept their promise   

Others, however, residents Sabrea Washington and Jeremiah McCoy had a more sympathetic take — saying the company is trying.

"I think they can do better.  I'm not saying they're not doing their job or could be this way or ... I think it could be a lot better," Williams said.

Williams is among those still waiting for the lights to turn back on. For her relatives with special needs, rock bottom arrived.

"Every day it gets more difficult when you go without power," she said.

Helping hands are making the pinch of summer 2026 a little less painful.

"Moneywise, I had to miss out on work. They were supposed to be in school and haven't started yet," Washington said.

Influencer Keith Lee put together this massive, day-long giveaway of essentials for a community essentially frozen in place. 

The giveaway handed out 1,000 meals, 1,000 drinks and 2,000 buckets of emergency supplies.

They will do it all over again this Saturday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Roosevelt Park. The hope is that by then, everyone's power will be restored.