The Alma Randolph Foundation helped yet another family furnish their new home Monday morning as Shamya Brown and her two children moved into their new space. Randolph this project began in November and is glad to finally see it completed.
Randolph said that in November she was connected with Brown by recommendation from the H.L. Neblett Community Center. But Brown said that wasn’t the home she said she wanted to stay in, so they agreed to wait before installing furniture.
“I didn’t even want to stay there. I wasn’t planning on staying there long enough and I would have felt bad if they put all that furniture in then I left anyway,” Brown said.
So Randolph said they waited for the perfect home to come about.
Now with three bedrooms and an in-unit washer and dryer, Brown said she is thankful that she waited.
Thanks to the Foundation’s Hands Up To Succeed (HUTS) program, Brown now has new furniture for the living room, dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms, along with home decor and a washer and dryer. Community partners include American Freight, Burlington, Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront Hotel, Limos By Knight, and Murphy Appliance.
“It makes me feel really good actually to know that people are there to help and to have some family to help, too,” she said.
Brown’s mother Melody O’Bryan tagged along for the walkthrough Monday and said she’s relieved that her daughter and granddaughters now have a place for themselves — and are able to stay in Owensboro.
“She came from Virginia with two kids and whatever she could pack in a car and moved here from a bad situation. To be here where she is now, I’m just so proud of her and so happy for her and the kids to have a nice place to live,” O’Bryan said.
The HUTS was established in 2016 to enhance the living conditions of deserving, disadvantaged families. Founder Alma Randolph always stresses that it’s truly a “hand up” not a “handout” because there is a selection process.
