In Stillwater, Oklahoma, a family of six found themselves in an unimaginable situation. After losing their rent-to-own mobile home due to ownership changes, they were left with no choice but to live in a tent on a friend’s property. They were navigating some legal barriers and struggling to stay afloat.
The father worked full-time, but past financial difficulties and legal hurdles kept them from finding stable housing. Heavy rains drenched their tent, ruining their only mattresses, and the summer heat added another layer of difficulty. At one point, the father had to physically hold the tent together during a storm to keep his family safe. The weight of their situation became overwhelming, and he confided to his case worker that he didn’t know how much more he could take.
In response, the case worker asked him a simple question: “Do you pray?”
His answer was honest: “No, not really.”
“Well, I’m going to pray,” she said. And she did.
The Request for Help
Knowing the urgency of their situation, the case worker reached out to CarePortal and local churches to request help. She explained that the family had found an RV for $2,600 that could provide immediate, stable shelter, but they didn’t have the resources to buy it.
The response was swift. Jennifer Holbert, Regional Manager of Payne County for 111Project, worked with local churches to raise the necessary funds. Snapper Rebmann, a church responder at Sunnybrook Christian Church, was the primary contact facilitating the communication among the four churches that helped and worked to ensure the family got the support they needed.
- World Harvest Stillwater immediately reached out out offering to front the first $1,250.
- Then, Eagle Heights Church pledged $250.
- Hillcrest Church contributed $625.
- Additional contributions came from a coalition of churches that pooled their resources to meet the goal.
- CarePortal responders from Sunnybrook Christian Church finalized the purchase, vetted the RV sale’s authenticity, and even went the extra mile to buy new mattresses and help plan RV repairs.
A Community Comes Together
The generosity didn’t stop there. When the responders noticed the children didn’t have shoes, they asked if they could help. The family, grateful for the support they’d already received, tried to decline, but the responders insisted. They bought high-quality shoes for all four children, ensuring they had what they needed.
With steady help, the family began to stabilize. The mother, despite challenges finding work, secured a job with the support and prayers of those advocating for her. When transportation to work became an issue, a community member stepped in to drive her.
A Brighter Future
Today, the family is making progress. The father continues working his full-time job, and the mother’s new job has brought much-needed financial stability. They now have clean mattresses, shoes for their children, and an RV they can call home.
Their story is a testament to the power of community and the impact of local churches working together. What started as a simple request through CarePortal turned into a lifeline that gave this family the chance to build a home and rebuild their life.
In Stillwater, hope is not just an idea—it’s something you can see, driving down the road in an RV.
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