JOPLIN, Mo. — A Joplin family in need of a home to call their own will move into one next month, thanks to Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian charity.
Volunteers from Samaritan’s Purse have been building a three-bedroom, two bath house for Diana Hughley and her three special needs children since March.
A year after Diana and her husband adopted their children, he was killed in an accident at a cement plant.
“One day my husband went to work and he didn’t come home,” Diana said.
Then, she felt the blow of another loss when the tornado raged through Joplin, destroying her home and all the others on her block. After living in a FEMA trailer for nearly a year, Diana and her three kids are ready for a home of their own. Best of all, the finished home has no mortgage. Diana is relieved because even with her insurance, there’s no way she could have afforded it otherwise, she said.
The home also has a safe room, built into the bathroom, in which the concrete walls are eight inches thick to shelter the family in case of a future tornado.
“They want to come by everyday and see the volunteers and see and do what they can to help,” said Diana about her kids.
Volunteers come from all over.
LaTonya Bailey, from Neosha, Mo. wanted to help this family.
“That’s what it’s all about- is helping people that are helping others,” she said.
Kim Perkins came in from New Mexico.
“Just to kind of give back to her. I mean she’s obviously done so much and helped so many people. It’s really great to be able to help her out some,” said Kim.
Diana says she feels their life is finally coming together again.
“It is just so awesome. I’ll never be able to thank any of them enough for what they’ve done,” Diana said.
