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Helping Karen and Emmett
Donation protected
Last week, many of you may have seen my post about helping a couple with their roof. It was raining and they had been dealing with black mold. Thankfully, Referred Roofing agreed to go over there (after hours) and put tarps over the holes, at no charge. After coming to know more details about their living situation and their story, I contacted every resource available in East Texas for help, and ended up at a dead end. The only option was to get them into a livable camper or RV; one that I could reasonably raise money for. So I posted on several marketplace pages, asking if anyone had one for sale under $3000. One of the responses was from a man who had one for $2000. It was gutted and he let me know I would need about $1000 in materials to fix it up. I figured I could probably come up with the cost for the camper, the materials, and perhaps enough volunteers to finish it for them, and make it accessible for someone who uses a walker.
I shared the couple's story with the man on the phone. Karen is a two time cancer survivor and has been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation 1, which causes great pain in her spine. Emmett uses a walker and is diabetic. The home they live in belonged to Karen's parents. She took care of them until they passed away and now lives there with her husband. The holes in the roof and mold have been there for years and have caused many problems. Because of the mold, Karen and Emmett were told it would be considered unsalvageable. As I shared with the man, his heart was moved. I sent him a photo of the couple and he told me immediately that he was considering giving them the camper and fixing it himself. After a life of drugs and hate, having been in the penitentiary for years, Luke had asked God to help him change. He wanted to be a good man. A white supremacist whose heart had been filled with hate, he had surrendered his heart to love. In seeing the photos of this African American couple, his heart melted and he knew this was his chance to walk in the opposite spirit than he had known for so long.
Yesterday, I met Luke over at Karen and Emmett's house. Before fixing up the camper, he had decided he wanted to check out their house and see for himself if it was salvageable. Luke has worked construction his whole life and after inspecting the house, knew that it could be salvaged. Rudy Wright from Wright Way services came over shortly after to look over the house. He has agreed to oversee Luke's project and provide financial accountability for donations and purchases. The cost of all exterior and interior materials, (including air conditioner, windows, and insulation) will cost around $25,000 (Rudy's estimate). Luke plans to start on this project tomorrow, and will continue nonstop, as long as we provide the materials. AVCO Roofing has agreed to replace the roof, free of charge, and will meet the first $5000 that comes in. If you would like to become involved, either by giving money or by assisting Luke, we would all be most appreciative.
PS. I knew this would be an awesome story, so I asked my friend Vanessa McKellar to come along with her camera on Monday when Luke met Karen and Emmett (they gave their blessing for her to film). There is so much more footage that we can't wait to show you. Gravity Films will be documenting the project as Karen and Emmett's dreams come true, and as Luke does his magic, in sacrificial servant-heartedness.
I shared the couple's story with the man on the phone. Karen is a two time cancer survivor and has been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation 1, which causes great pain in her spine. Emmett uses a walker and is diabetic. The home they live in belonged to Karen's parents. She took care of them until they passed away and now lives there with her husband. The holes in the roof and mold have been there for years and have caused many problems. Because of the mold, Karen and Emmett were told it would be considered unsalvageable. As I shared with the man, his heart was moved. I sent him a photo of the couple and he told me immediately that he was considering giving them the camper and fixing it himself. After a life of drugs and hate, having been in the penitentiary for years, Luke had asked God to help him change. He wanted to be a good man. A white supremacist whose heart had been filled with hate, he had surrendered his heart to love. In seeing the photos of this African American couple, his heart melted and he knew this was his chance to walk in the opposite spirit than he had known for so long.
Yesterday, I met Luke over at Karen and Emmett's house. Before fixing up the camper, he had decided he wanted to check out their house and see for himself if it was salvageable. Luke has worked construction his whole life and after inspecting the house, knew that it could be salvaged. Rudy Wright from Wright Way services came over shortly after to look over the house. He has agreed to oversee Luke's project and provide financial accountability for donations and purchases. The cost of all exterior and interior materials, (including air conditioner, windows, and insulation) will cost around $25,000 (Rudy's estimate). Luke plans to start on this project tomorrow, and will continue nonstop, as long as we provide the materials. AVCO Roofing has agreed to replace the roof, free of charge, and will meet the first $5000 that comes in. If you would like to become involved, either by giving money or by assisting Luke, we would all be most appreciative.
PS. I knew this would be an awesome story, so I asked my friend Vanessa McKellar to come along with her camera on Monday when Luke met Karen and Emmett (they gave their blessing for her to film). There is so much more footage that we can't wait to show you. Gravity Films will be documenting the project as Karen and Emmett's dreams come true, and as Luke does his magic, in sacrificial servant-heartedness.
Organizer and beneficiary
Callynth Finney
Organizer
Tyler, TX
Jerry Putman
Beneficiary