Special Needs Home Facing Crisis
Donation protected
She Had a Dream…
Her dream started nearly 40 years ago. A devout Christian woman had a dream to open up her heart and home for adults with special needs. Back in 1979, these types of group homes were rare and nearly non-existent. Because Linda (Johnston) Kennedy had to face life growing up with no mother, (her mother died from Hodgkin's Disease when Linda was just seven years old), Linda felt a need to "mother" those that were in need of special care. After much prayer and work, Morning Sun Care Home (MSCH) opened its doors and welcomed its first resident, a lady with cerebral palsy. With already seven children of her own, Linda expanded her family with three more clients over the next few years. Four residents soon grew to 13 and over the next 36 years, this generous and loving woman would ultimately care for hundreds of adults with special needs.
But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, the story, along with the dream may come to a tragic end. But with your prayerful financial support, a new chapter can be written in this real life novel and will help save this adult family care home.
MSCH was recently issued a foreclosure notice and needs your help to keep the doors open. Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRF) are regulated by state government agencies. Nearly two years ago, false allegations were lodged against Linda and MSCH to the State of Wisconsin. What should have followed was a thorough investigation by the State to to either verify or disprove the claims. Unfortunately, that was not the case and what was once a dream, has turned into a tragic nightmare.
The State of Wisconsin issued a "cease order" against MSCH. Even though an appeal was filed and the State’s final determination should have taken a few months, the case would drag on for nearly a year and a half. Slowly, one by one, each of the residents were placed into new homes and forced to leave the place where they had grown to depend on Linda’s daily love and care.
After nearly two years of lawyers, negotiations, paperwork, mounting bills, and tears of despair, MSCH was recently successful in obtaining their state license once again in the hopes of re-opening its doors to those with special needs. But that short-lived glimmer of hope soon faded. Two weeks ago, a letter from the mortgage company arrived in the mail and revealed the devastating news that Linda’s home would be sold on April 30 unless a substantial down payment and delinquent payments were caught up. With no revenue and mounting bills, how would that be possible?
However, the Bible says, "With God, All things are possible." So, armed with God’s promise, Linda’s family bonded together to seek ways in which to keep her dream and legacy alive. We are hoping with your help that Morning Sun Care Home will continue to shine its light into hundreds of more lives for many years to come. Will you help us?
Should you ever have the chance to encounter the lady that is the subject of this story, you would find that words cannot do this lady justice. She is as kind, caring, and compassionate a woman as you would ever have the pleasure to meet, even to those that have taken advantage of her generosity, mistreated her, or have even tried to do her harm. This is indeed a lady whose every breath is devoted to her Christian faith and to live a life that is a testament to her beliefs. She would be the first to tell you that she has been blessed by God beyond measure and has used what God has blessed her with to help others. Now, she is the one in need of help.
This is an unfamilar postition for all involved. We are faced with a monumental task with little options because of the timeframe we have to work with. We humbly ask not only for your financial support if you are able, but to remember us in your prayers. If you are able to do nothing else, please forward this story so that perhaps those in a postion to help will be able to do so. Morning Sun Care Home, Inc., is a non-profit corporation and any donation made to MSCH is tax deductable.
Thank you for taking the time to read this story of a remarkable lady that desperately needs your help to continue her lifelong work. May the Lord bless you richly for your support of Linda Kennedy and Morning Sun Care Home, Inc.
Her dream started nearly 40 years ago. A devout Christian woman had a dream to open up her heart and home for adults with special needs. Back in 1979, these types of group homes were rare and nearly non-existent. Because Linda (Johnston) Kennedy had to face life growing up with no mother, (her mother died from Hodgkin's Disease when Linda was just seven years old), Linda felt a need to "mother" those that were in need of special care. After much prayer and work, Morning Sun Care Home (MSCH) opened its doors and welcomed its first resident, a lady with cerebral palsy. With already seven children of her own, Linda expanded her family with three more clients over the next few years. Four residents soon grew to 13 and over the next 36 years, this generous and loving woman would ultimately care for hundreds of adults with special needs.
But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, the story, along with the dream may come to a tragic end. But with your prayerful financial support, a new chapter can be written in this real life novel and will help save this adult family care home.
MSCH was recently issued a foreclosure notice and needs your help to keep the doors open. Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRF) are regulated by state government agencies. Nearly two years ago, false allegations were lodged against Linda and MSCH to the State of Wisconsin. What should have followed was a thorough investigation by the State to to either verify or disprove the claims. Unfortunately, that was not the case and what was once a dream, has turned into a tragic nightmare.
The State of Wisconsin issued a "cease order" against MSCH. Even though an appeal was filed and the State’s final determination should have taken a few months, the case would drag on for nearly a year and a half. Slowly, one by one, each of the residents were placed into new homes and forced to leave the place where they had grown to depend on Linda’s daily love and care.
After nearly two years of lawyers, negotiations, paperwork, mounting bills, and tears of despair, MSCH was recently successful in obtaining their state license once again in the hopes of re-opening its doors to those with special needs. But that short-lived glimmer of hope soon faded. Two weeks ago, a letter from the mortgage company arrived in the mail and revealed the devastating news that Linda’s home would be sold on April 30 unless a substantial down payment and delinquent payments were caught up. With no revenue and mounting bills, how would that be possible?
However, the Bible says, "With God, All things are possible." So, armed with God’s promise, Linda’s family bonded together to seek ways in which to keep her dream and legacy alive. We are hoping with your help that Morning Sun Care Home will continue to shine its light into hundreds of more lives for many years to come. Will you help us?
Should you ever have the chance to encounter the lady that is the subject of this story, you would find that words cannot do this lady justice. She is as kind, caring, and compassionate a woman as you would ever have the pleasure to meet, even to those that have taken advantage of her generosity, mistreated her, or have even tried to do her harm. This is indeed a lady whose every breath is devoted to her Christian faith and to live a life that is a testament to her beliefs. She would be the first to tell you that she has been blessed by God beyond measure and has used what God has blessed her with to help others. Now, she is the one in need of help.
This is an unfamilar postition for all involved. We are faced with a monumental task with little options because of the timeframe we have to work with. We humbly ask not only for your financial support if you are able, but to remember us in your prayers. If you are able to do nothing else, please forward this story so that perhaps those in a postion to help will be able to do so. Morning Sun Care Home, Inc., is a non-profit corporation and any donation made to MSCH is tax deductable.
Thank you for taking the time to read this story of a remarkable lady that desperately needs your help to continue her lifelong work. May the Lord bless you richly for your support of Linda Kennedy and Morning Sun Care Home, Inc.
Organizer
Jay Kennedy
Organizer
Brodhead, WI