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Independence, MO —
An Independence family is coming through tough times, thanks to the efforts and donations of dozens of friends and strangers.
“It’s amazing. I’m kind of in a dream right now,” said Krista Smith, standing inside her newly refurbished house on McCoy Street.
It’s been a very rough few years. In 2008, Smith’s husband died. A year later, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Then in late 2010, her daughter Katrena was diagnosed with lymphoma, which required a bone marrow transplant last year.
“How many times can lightning strike a family?” asked Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders.
In the midst of all that, the family’s home began to fall into disrepair. The basement flooded, and a mold problem developed – an absolute no-no for someone like Katrena, given her medical condition.
But they had a communitywide support system. Their church, Maywood Baptist in Englewood, raised $16,000 to help with medical bills. Members of the church fed them about every night at one point, Krista said. The Independence School District, working through the Twelve Blocks West initiative in western Independence, brought the situation to the attention of Jackson County’s Constructing Futures program. Sanders started that program several years ago with the aim of making homes livable, helping families in danger of becoming homeless and giving training to help people get into careers in remodeling.
On Thursday, that all came together with a ceremony at Maywood Baptist and then a quick tour of the home.
“It is in keeping with what God wants us to be, and that is to love one another,” said County Legislator James Tindall, D-Kansas City, who is also a minister.
The project also involved the Connections to Success program, allowing two ex-offenders to work, get training and have a better chance at a job rather than committing more crimes.
“That’s the long-term payback to our community,” Sanders said.
Mom and daughter had moved several times while the house was in rough shape and then was being renovated. For Katrena, now 14 and ready to play the violin in the orchestra when she starts at Truman High School in the fall, it just means something simple like having her own room again and maybe having girls over for a sleepover.
“It’s gonna be weird coming back home. ... It’s awesome,” she said.
Katrena also is now cancer-free – and she’s maintained an A average all along.
Krista is still working through her health issues but says God sends her blessings every day, and she said the aid of the church was vital.
Did the support of friends and strangers surprise her? No.
“For our church, I’m not shocked or surprised. ... Our church just came to us.”
An Independence family is coming through tough times, thanks to the efforts and donations of dozens of friends and strangers.
“It’s amazing. I’m kind of in a dream right now,” said Krista Smith, standing inside her newly refurbished house on McCoy Street.
It’s been a very rough few years. In 2008, Smith’s husband died. A year later, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Then in late 2010, her daughter Katrena was diagnosed with lymphoma, which required a bone marrow transplant last year.
“How many times can lightning strike a family?” asked Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders.
In the midst of all that, the family’s home began to fall into disrepair. The basement flooded, and a mold problem developed – an absolute no-no for someone like Katrena, given her medical condition.
But they had a communitywide support system. Their church, Maywood Baptist in Englewood, raised $16,000 to help with medical bills. Members of the church fed them about every night at one point, Krista said. The Independence School District, working through the Twelve Blocks West initiative in western Independence, brought the situation to the attention of Jackson County’s Constructing Futures program. Sanders started that program several years ago with the aim of making homes livable, helping families in danger of becoming homeless and giving training to help people get into careers in remodeling.
On Thursday, that all came together with a ceremony at Maywood Baptist and then a quick tour of the home.
“It is in keeping with what God wants us to be, and that is to love one another,” said County Legislator James Tindall, D-Kansas City, who is also a minister.
The project also involved the Connections to Success program, allowing two ex-offenders to work, get training and have a better chance at a job rather than committing more crimes.
“That’s the long-term payback to our community,” Sanders said.
Mom and daughter had moved several times while the house was in rough shape and then was being renovated. For Katrena, now 14 and ready to play the violin in the orchestra when she starts at Truman High School in the fall, it just means something simple like having her own room again and maybe having girls over for a sleepover.
“It’s gonna be weird coming back home. ... It’s awesome,” she said.
Katrena also is now cancer-free – and she’s maintained an A average all along.
Krista is still working through her health issues but says God sends her blessings every day, and she said the aid of the church was vital.
Did the support of friends and strangers surprise her? No.
“For our church, I’m not shocked or surprised. ... Our church just came to us.”
