Two families were surprised Saturday morning with upgrades to their homes as a part of the Hands Up To Succeed (HUTS) program, a division of the Alma Randolph Charitable Foundation.
The two homes — one on Old Henderson Road and the other on Plum Street — are a part of the more than 25 homes in total that have been selected for upgrades and furnishings through the nonprofits 26 years.
In the beginning, Randolph’s foundation provided clothing to children, and although they still do that to some extent, their main focus now is their projects through H.U.T.S.
Recipients are nominated to the foundation and must own their home or be a part of governmental housing. Two or three homes are updated every year with new beds, couches, kitchen tables and other furniture, home decor and other cosmetic updates.
The foundation board considers the families unique needs when deciding how to spend funds, which are raised with events throughout the year. Stacey Benge, one of Saturday’s recipients, needed a washer and dryer and kitchen table. Meijer also stocks the kitchen with food for the family.
Lauren Payne, Alma Randolph Charitable Foundation board member, said once the families are chosen Limo’s by Knight picks them up from their homes for an overnight stay at the downtown Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront.
“There is a pizza party for them and the kids are able to swim and live it up for the night,” she said.
Benge and 12-year-old son Michael were overwhelmed when entering their newly furnished home for the first time Saturday. New furniture, fully stocked cabinets and refrigerator, clothes for Michael and even fall decorations made the home feel special, Benge said.
“We didn’t have the money to make it look like what we wanted,” Benge said. “The opportunity that we got is amazing because we wouldn’t be able to do for a really long time.”
