Vicious attack destroys our friends' home

Hi, my name is Katherine and I am fundraising for my friends, Dean and Lorrenda Southern. They were returning from a day away to celebrate their wedding anniversary when they received the call that their house had been viciously vandalized, destroying their retirement hopes. The house was waiting to be moved from Brooks, Alberta to a lot they had purchased in the Drumheller, Alberta valley where they currently rent. The foundation had just been built and cured and the movers were about to lift the house from the Brooks location and deliver it to the new foundation in Drumheller when the vandalism happened. The damage is devastating and it is estimated to take $100,000-$150,000 to restore the home. Due to the extensive damage caused, it far exceeds Dean and Lorrenda's capacity to make the home habitable. Every window and door was smashed, the drywall throughout the house hammered with holes, spray painted, newly purchased furnace and AC units waiting to be installed were thrown outside the house and left in the rain, the electrical outlets smashed, cupboards were ripped off the kitchen walls, kitchen appliances were dragged from the kitchen and thrown down a stairwell on top of each other, the toilet and sink were smashed along with the shower stall glass. The perpetrators even defecated in the bathtub.

Dean and Lorrenda are deeply traumatized by this hateful act. The house was to become their home in preparation for retirement. Sadly, there was a misunderstanding of coverage between insurer and mover, so to their shock, the Southerns were not covered for the vandalism. Their home insurance claim has been denied. This has placed Dean and Lorrenda in a very vulnerable and precarious position, financially and emotionally.

Dean and Lorrenda have given their lives in the service of others and I am asking for help to restore their dream of a modest retirement. They are active members of the community on many levels. While living in Brooks, Dean and Lorrenda church planted Brooks International Gospel Church (which continues). Dean volunteered as a board member for the Immigration Centre, was head chaplain for Lakeside Packers (now JBS Food Canada), and was active in working at the recreation Centre, coached swimming and volunteered as a soccer coach. Lorrenda was active in serving the immigrant community by running ESL children’s programs, employment programs for at-risk women, a Ten Thousand Villages Store, and Youth and Immigrant Women Programs. They were also employees and volunteers at St. Joseph’s Collegiate. Lorrenda also was employed at the Women's Shelter and Red Cross and served on the interagency committee.

Lorrenda has been an active member in her Drumheller community being an animator for Mental Health Building Capacity Funding and involved in bringing several grants that improve mental health. She is employed as a Family Resource Worker in a school and is helping students run programs to promote mental wellness. Dean serves in their local church as an elder and is currently working as a spiritual care practitioner in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Throughout their careers, Lorrenda has worked in five correctional facilities and has been actively involved in restorative justice models on many levels. Dean also has worked in two correctional facilities as a chaplain.

Dean and Lorrenda understand the importance of forgiveness from a faith and restorative justice model, however, it does not diminish the impact this tragedy has had on them. This event has been life-altering, seemingly shattering the dream they had of retirement, of having a home and financial stability. They still are believing for good, and that the best things are still to come.

We are so grateful for the emotional help and support of so many friends and family. The need for financial help at this time is so crucial. As the external structure of the house is intact, Dean and Lorrenda have decided to go ahead with the house move and it will be placed on its new foundation soon. The need is urgent as they hope to be living in the house before winter. Friends and our church family are organizing volunteer teams to help with the clean-up of all the broken glass and other destruction, and demolition will have to happen before restoration can begin. We need everything - from drywall to windows, doors, appliances, cupboards, professional tradespeople ... and the list goes on.

It is a huge task but we are encouraged and we thank you so much for helping us with your donation. Thank you.