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The People Helping People Network--- Helping People in
Transition in Lee's Summit
The People
Helping People Network, which New Summit is a member church, would like to
share a recent success story in helping persons in Lee's Summit.
The People
Helping People (PHP) office first received a call from a Police
Officer asking if PHP could help an apartment manager of a
section 8 housing unit, to see if they could assist her. The
apartment complex had lost their HUD certification. The
owner was faced with helping all her tenants find new housing; and as she
found them new homes, she helped them move from one residence to another.
But, the job was becoming overwhelming.
The PHP
office explained to the Police Officer that it was difficult to find
people to help move, because this seems to be a job that no one else wants to
do, but they would send an e-mail out to the PHP member
churches. The PHP office was certain some help would respond
because this was a chance for us to rise and be our brother's keeper.
So, the
apartment manager who had been trying to move all these people by herself
called the PHP office with the list of four elderly people who could
not afford to pay moving expenses because of 1st and last month's
rent on the new apartment. Two needed to move on the 1st and
two needed to move on the 8th.
Then
miracles started happening as hearts were touched by the plight of these
elderly people who have to deal with the trauma of leaving their homes and packing.
An
appeal went out from the PHP office. This is what transpired.
The PHP
office received a phone call from the Knights of Columbus at Holy
Spirit Catholic Church who said they would have at least 6 men to help on
November 1st and more on November 8th. Then,
they received an email that First Presbyterian Church would take care
of the cost of renting the van for both moves. Then a call was made
to Langsford House, a home for troubled boys, and they committed to help on the
1st and the 8th - 12 boys in all. Our Lady
of the Presentation Church ladies volunteered to help one of
the ladies who has multiple sclerosis pack and unpack. Some from the
Lee's Summit Christian Church offered assistance with packing as well. Boy
Scout troop 220 said they could help as well, but 12 - 15 more people on
the 8th would have been too many.
The
moving started at 8:00 and was done by 11:30 on the 1st.
We would have been done even sooner but one of the residents had to move to
Raytown. The boys, each one, worked so very hard. The men did what
they did and were amazed by the help from the Langsford Home boys. This
was truly a God moment, where adult men were able to role model good
character to young men. And every person there was touched by the grace
and kindness of the elderly. Even though each one of these elderly
ladies was moving 15 to 25 years of accumulation, we were able to move the two
ladies on the 8th in two hours. Then the apartment
complex owner called the PHP office, desperate, because she had two more
and maybe three that needed to move on the 15th. I called the
helpers and, once again, all were excited to come back for the third weekend.
Because these next two ladies were moving to Raytown, another lady volunteered
a free moving van so we could move both of them at the same time. Once
again, we were able to accomplish a small miracle and all were moved by 10:30
am in under three hours.
This was
truly a community of faith mentoring abandoned elderly women and troubled
boys. Each resident was so grateful. They were overwhelmed by our
assistance. The boys had a great time. They were the reason that we
could do what we did. At the end, the PHP person gathered the
boys and thanked them. It was explained to the boys that they
did a job that most people don't want to do and they did it joyfully.
They surrounded the PHP person with a group hug.
Then thanks were given to the men. One of them turned to
me and said: "Well, I am sure this is something these residents didn't
want to do either. It was the least we could do."
The PHP
person mentioned having rarely witnessed such an inspiring moment. Each
person felt God's Spirit in these moving events. Because of the
perseverance of Community Interaction Police Officer and the help of
People Helping People, the community rose to the aide of these elderly people
and this apartment manager.
The PHP
Network is looking for individuals, groups and teams for volunteers. If
you are interested in finding out more about the People Helping People Network,
contact Matt Starr, 816-525-4109,
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or website: http://phpnetwork.homestead.com/
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