House ready for couple's return

Saturday, August 31, 2013
Much work has been done to Donald and Barbara Hammond's house at 1403 S. Clark St. The Hammonds have been living in a small room at the Red Ram Motel while volunteers complete repair projects on the house. The Hammond's house was the first to be selected by the Bourbon County Long-Term Recovery Committee for repairs following the April 7 hailstorm.

For one local couple, it might be like being featured on an episode of an extreme home makeover reality TV show.

Donald and Barbara Hammond, who have been living very simply the past several months at a local motel, hope to be able to move in soon to their home at 1403 S. Clark St., which was the first project chosen by the Bourbon County Long Term Recovery Committee for repairs following the April 7 hailstorm.

Donald said he and his wife are for now just "getting by" as they wait for work to be finished at the house to make it livable once again. He said he's getting a little "stir crazy" sitting cooped up in a small room at the Red Ram Motel where they have been living.

The couple said they appreciated the work of the committee and others who have helped them during a difficult time. Not only are they temporarily displaced from their home, they are both currently battling health issues as well. Donald has had two heart attacks over the years and Barbara said she has dealt with diabetes and an incurable blood disease.

"I appreciate what they did," Donald said. "It's way better than what it was ... the roof is done, we're just waiting on the living quarters."

Bill Pollock, case manager for the BCLTRC, said when work began to repair the roof of the house following the hailstorm, it was discovered that more work needed to be done. Pollock said the north wall had to be fixed so volunteers could access the roof. Other repair work such as plumbing, flooring and fixing broken windows was also on the slate.

About 50 percent of the work was done to repair storm damage while the other half was "good samaritan" work, Pollock said.

Pollock said no taxpayer dollars are being used to fund the repair projects. All funds are being provided by churches and groups affiliated with the project, and donations.

"This is not taxpayer money," he said. "This is church money and volunteers. And because it is, we are not limited ... we can recognize people in need."

The BCLTRC was formed right after the April 7 hailstorm to assist those who suffered damage from that storm and are low income, have no insurance or are underinsured.

Pollock said there were no special circumstances that surrounded the Clark Street project - it was just the first project chosen since it was ready to go. He said "there are other projects out there" once the Clark Street project is complete, but funding may be an issue down the road.

"There are other people who need help," he said. "Between the two churches, we have about $30,000 left in funding. That will provide material for five or six houses. We're trying to line up skilled workers to come do the next series of roofs, Apostolic skilled workers."

The roof project was a joint effort between the Apostolic Christian Church, the Apostolic Christian World Relief, the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Scott and the John Calvin Presbytery churches, which Pollock said are located as far away as Springfield, Mo., and Scammon, Kan.

Remaining work inside the house was completed by Preferred Home Living, a local nonprofit charity that helps low-income families continue living in the homes they prefer to live in. Part of the work inside the Hammonds' home was done by a team from the Methodist Church of Fulton who are associated with the Good Neighbor Action Team, Pollock said.

Money for projects has been provided by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, a denominational body. Wood Construction, a local contractor, has provided materials to the group "at cost," Pollock said.

Donald said he and his wife have been out of their house a total of about eight months. They're paying for the hotel room on their limited disability incomes but do get some help from friends, neighbors and family. They can get no assistance from the state. Their car is in the shop right now so they travel on foot or get rides when possible.

The lack of transportation has prevented them from traveling to Kansas City to see their youngest daughter who recently had a baby.

"I haven't seen my grandson yet," he said.

Neighbors have helped by mowing their lawn and even letting them use electricity when needed as they try to recover their lives.

"We've got problems on top of problems," Donald said.

Barbara said the couple eats mostly canned goods "or whatever can be microwaved right now."

"We go to the Beacon and other local agencies, wherever I can, to make it stretch," Barbara said. "We're humbled by everyone helping us ... we've drained every dime we've had."

According to Donald, the April 7 hailstorm "destroyed everything. It did a whole lot of damage."

"We had no insurance," he said.

The couple first talked to volunteer Ralph Carlson, with Preferred Home Living, who got the Hammonds in touch with Pollock, who then helped get the couple in contact with city officials. Pollock said the city and county have helped by waiving various fees for the Hammonds and the county has helped collect applications. The Bourbon County Emergency Management office also helped the committee by providing the use of computers and meeting rooms.

"I feel blessed; very blessed," Donald said of his reaction to all the help he and his wife have received. "Without all the help, we wouldn't get it."

The Hammonds said they plan to hopefully move back into their house soon after some holes in the ceiling are addressed, tile has been placed on floors, and some broken windows are fixed. They said electricity and water at the house have recently been turned back on.

The couple said the Clark Street house is the only place they call home.

"We're gonna die there; it's our home," Barbara said.

On Thursday, Pollock took the couple to pick out new furniture for the house which was moved into the house that day. Pollock said he personally planned to provide a cooling gift to the Hammonds.

Donald said his oldest daughter, whose Kansas City-area church does mission work, has donated all the furniture and appliances for the renovated house. The Hammonds have had a lot of assistance from local volunteers, who "have been fantastic," Donald said.

"Fort Scott has been a blessing for us," he said.

Donald said the Hammonds have lived at the house on Clark Street since 1997. Barbara moved to Fort Scott in 1985; Donald in 1990. The couple said the house was just paid off about six months ago.

Anyone who wishes to donate to the committee for its work can designate funds to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and the Apostolic Christian Church and Presbyterian Church.