Three local families had their homes fully furnished for the first time on Saturday thanks to the Alma Randolph Charitable Foundation, just in time for the holiday season.
The Foundation’s Foundation’s Hands Up To Succeed (HUTS) program was established in 2016 to enhance the living conditions of deserving, disadvantaged families. Founder Alma Randolph-Crump stressed that it’s truly a “hand up” not a “handout” because there is a selection process and the families must show they are working to better their situation.
The Foundation, with the help of community donors and volunteers, furnishes selected homes with beds, dining sets, living room furniture, and more. The Foundation often is able to bless one or more homes during the Christmas season. Families are typically gifted a two-night stay at the Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront while their home gets a makeover. They are also provided transport by Limos by Knight.
In addition to furnishing the home, HUTS also aims to provide presents for the family to make Christmas shopping easier. This year, gifts were purchased by Longhorn Steakhouse.
Three families returned home to new furnishings and presents on Saturday.
The first included Yas Badger, a single mother, and her 4-year-old daughter. Badger said she has lived at the Daniel Pitino Shelter for the last 8 months after being homeless for the previous 4 years.
“This is my first home and this is everything I ever could have dreamed of. I love it,” Badger said.
The second home belongs to Erica Johnson, a single mother of four. She recalled just sleeping on air mattresses a few nights prior.
Her home was completely transformed and now is fully furnished with three bedroom sets for her and her four children, along with living in dining supplies.
“I feel thankful and grateful that I have more people outside of just my dad supporting me, because that was just my only support,” Johnson said. “It’s just great to have more people a part of my village.”
