Andrews Comes Home

One of our favorite parts about recovery is welcoming homeowners into their newly rebuilt homes. Today we’re celebrating Bernie and Darci moving into their home! During the pandemic, this is an even greater point of celebration than normal. Bernie and Darci have been living in an RV on their property and for them to have the room and freedom of a house is so very exciting.

What makes a Hope City home so special is the number of partners who must come together to make it happen. At this dedication we had the privilege of having most of our partners in attendance. Of note, Hammers for Hope, Cal Pine, NCO and Catholic Charities all sent representatives, as well as two of our AmeriCorps NCCC teams. It no longer takes a village, it takes a city, a Hope City, to bring communities back together.

A mainstay of our dedications is Moke Simon. Simon wears so many hats, but today was proud to represent not only Hammers for Hope, but to be a good friend to Darci Andrews. Simon said, “I couldn’t be happier to be here with friends and family. I’m not usually at a loss for words, but today I am. Today is that appreciation for why we’re here. We do this together, and we’ll continue to grow.”

Many of our partner representatives spoke briefly welcoming the family home, and I think it can be easily summed up in the words of the NCO representative who said, “Welcome home! That sounds good, it feels good, and [pointing towards the house] it looks good!”

Of the partners who weren’t able to attend, we’d like to give a special shout out to IRT and Fannie Mae SERVE. These two groups have brought in so many volunteers and done so much work for fire survivors. They’re fantastic programs, and even more lovely people. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your willingness to Rebuild Homes and Restore Lives.

The Valley Fire drove through Middletown in September of 2015. Almost five years to the day, Darci was given final occupancy approval on her home. Between her loss and the completion of her home so many volunteers became a part of her recovery, not just materially, but emotionally as well. Andrews said of the volunteers, “The veracity of their wanting to help was a little overwhelming. I’d forgotten there were people out there like that.”

The day was so special, and the Home Dedication was finished off with Darci proclaiming, “You know what people? I’m a homeowner!”

2020 has been difficult, but we are so happy and proud to welcome Bernie and Darci home.

If you would like to be a part of Rebuilding Homes and Restoring Lives, you can donate here.