POCATELLO — What a difference a day can make.

    Thursday morning Connie and Bob Sistrunk were facing the theft of two batteries that ruined their long weekend plans for a camping trip, a broken water softener and water heater on the fritz. Friday they were overwhelmed by the kindness of the community they call home.

    “We are truly blessed to have a community like this,” Connie said.

    After the story about the early morning theft of batteries from the couple’s camper trailer ran in Friday morning’s edition of the Journal, Pocatello’s response overwhelmed them.

    “It’s been an incredible day,” Connie said, fighting back tears. “I definitely got my blessings back today.”

    When she arrived at her job at Idaho State University, coworkers were already offering to lend the Sistrunks a portable generator and give them some financial assistance so they could take advantage of the Memorial Day weekend.

    Big O Tire in Pocatello had left a message on their home phone telling them it would donate batteries to the cause. Other messages from total strangers offered additional help.

    “This is not what we wanted,” Connie said. “We just wanted to help other people from becoming victims and maybe stop the thieves so they could get some help.”

    But the outpouring from Pocatellans kept coming.

    “We had to turn a lot of people down,” Connie said about the offers. “It was just amazing. We don’t even know who these people are. It’s pretty overwhelming for both of us.”

    One of the many calls the couple received was from Bish’s RV Super Center in Pocatello. It’s where they purchased their camper two years ago. Their son-in-law, Conor O’Farrell, who had returned from military service in Kuwait two months ago, had purchased Bob an early Father’s Day gift — two new batteries. O’Farrell is married to their daughter, Bonnie.

    “Bish’s gave them to him at cost,” Connie said.

    All the good will has the Sistrunks reconsidering their weekend camping plans, which they had canceled after the batteries were stolen Thursday morning.

    “We’re just kind of in a state of shock right now,” Connie said. “It might be nice to go somewhere.”

    Of course, the couple will have to repack the camper and its refrigerator. And they will secure their new batteries with a heavy-duty cable and lock.