A Christmas Miracle

“We’ve got five trees up in the house this year… no wait, we have 7 trees in our house.”  April Kraft describes their holiday decorations at their Paradise home as they anticipate their second Christmas at home. She said she likes to decorate in early November and enjoy the full season. For five years, this single mom and her two girls would put up lights and decorations in their RV after they lost their home in the Camp Fire in 2018.

The path to building was difficult and lengthy, but April’s story is one of perseverance and hope. Her voice is full of excitement and joy as she talks about the changes in their lives. Her daughters were young when the fire devastated Paradise. Ellie was 11 and Madison was just 3. April bought an RV within months of the fire. She felt strongly that she wanted to be a Paradise Pioneer, someone who returned to the community and helped to build it back. She was working but not making much money, her divorce was on-going, but she pressed on. She said, “I kept turning over rocks, looking for a way to have my forever home, I heard so much negativity, so many no’s. I was determined to show my girls that you can face difficulty and still press on.”

During her search for a solution, a staff member at the Town of Paradise told her to contact HCRN. “I didn’t know who they were or what they offered, but I gave them a call. Mark and Melisa listened to my story and said, ‘Let’s see what we can do.’” And what they did is get her started on a building a three bedroom two bathroom home. April went through USDA for a low interest loan to purchase the building materials, which in itself is a process, but then HCRN kicked off the build and volunteers began the work on April’s home. She said she enjoyed meeting the volunteers and working with them some days.  Having meals together was another great joy. The build progressed, when school started they took back to school pictures in front of a framed home with no windows. But a Christmas miracle was waiting for them…

Their final occupancy was granted on December 23, 2023. They had a couch delivered on December 24 as they moved in and they celebrated Christmas Day in a home they were still putting together. 

That’s why this Christmas, there are 7 trees throughout the house and they celebrate with joy a year filled with so many blessings.

You make new homes like this possible. Thank you to our volunteers who come and serve and rebuild homes. Thank you to our generous donors who make this work possible. You are changing lives each and every day.

When I asked April to sum up this year she said, “it’s a dream come true. I’m living in the community I love, my children are doing so good and I’m just filled with overwhelming joy.”  The naysayers didn’t stop April from her dream.

Thank you for creating a Christmas miracle!