Group Of Boulder Women Rescue Flood Damaged Photos For Free

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - A group of women is helping flood victims in Northern Colorado save what many thought was a lost cause -- photos.

Some might call it tedious -- peeling, scraping, cleaning and cutting waterlogged photos. But for Boulder moms Meg Blum, Diana Ewing and Heather Knierim, it's the least they can do. And they're not asking for a dime.

"We decided somebody had to try," Blum said.

The trio formed Boulder Photo Rescue not long after the floods while volunteering with The Mudslingers cleaning houses.

"I think it's a combination of being a photographer and being extremely sentimental," Knierim said.

So far they've worked their way through about 10,000 pieces of family history. While for some, the flood damage proved too much.

"I don't throw anything away," Ewing said. "I don't want to make that decision for them."

For others there are miraculous recoveries.

"We've had a lot of luck with old black and whites," Knierim said.

The photos all represent generations of history for flood victim Susan Schima's family.

"I pulled out the photo albums; they were under water," Schima said.

As keeper of the family photos, she was about to give up.

"I actually had the entire group of photo albums sitting next to the trash can," Schima said.

That was until she brought them to the women of Boulder Photo Rescue, where right away they saw potential.

While a picture may be worth 1,000 words, Schima has only one for the women of Boulder Rescue -- thankful.

"Of all the things I've lost in this flood, I'd say those family photos are the most important," she said.

Contact Boulder Photo Rescue through their Facebook page, which also has advice on how to restore damaged pictures.

Colorado Floods: How To Help

The recent floods are impacting families and communities throughout Colorado, so CBS4 has compiled a list of ways you can support the local communities impacted by the floods.