Deanna McKinney's home is the beating heart of the West Side.
She needs our help to save it by November 30th.
If you know Deanna, your life has been changed by Deanna.
If you have been to her home, you have been hugged, you have been fed, and you have felt God's love.
Deanna moved to her house in 2010. Her son Tymel was taken from us on April 23rd 2014, by gun violence. Deanna chose to stay in her home. She chose to try and to turn her pain into power.
Since then, everyone on the West Side has known that 801 6th St is a place you can go to sign into rehab, to escape from domestic issues, to let out your frustration in hopes of finding a solution, to spend the night when you've got nowhere else to stay, or simply to get a good meal and some tough love.
Barbecues. Block parties. Voter registration. Back to school picnics. Support groups for sex workers. Anti-violence rallies. Youth group meetings. Meet-the-candidate events. Deanna has hosted more community events, and done more emotional labor, in that home in 4 years than most non-profit organizations do in 40 years. She's never been paid a cent for this work.
That generosity has caught up with her. Her landlord has allowed her to stay in this house, continuing to help the community, for months. For economic reasons, he now needs to sell. Deanna received a summons to appear in court the same day she was sworn in as the newest member of Charleston City Council...yet another example of Deanna's desire to serve our community without regard for pay.
To pay the back rent and court fees, and for Deanna to buy the house outright, we need to help her raise $88,495. It's a lot of money, but it is nothing compared to what she and that house have brought to our city. It is nothing compared to what she and that house will continue to bring to our city. The court's deadline is November 30th, or she has to move out. I can't think of any better Christmas gift than to keep Deanna and her family in that house for the holidays. We promise that every single cent we raise (minus the small fraction that gofundme takes) will go directly to Deanna to help keep her in this house.
If you have ever been supported by Deanna, please donate.
If you have ever wanted to make a true and lasting difference in this city, please donate.
If you have ever wished you could do more to help absorb the pain and trauma in our community, please donate.
If you believe in underdogs and good neighbors and the power of prayer, please donate.
For obvious reasons, Deanna and her family are trying to keep some of the specifics of the case private. She has given us permission to establish this gofundme page. If you are interested in donating, but you have further questions, please feel free to e-mail me (Stephen Smith) through this website. I'll try to respond to requests as quickly as I can.
She needs our help to save it by November 30th.
If you know Deanna, your life has been changed by Deanna.
If you have been to her home, you have been hugged, you have been fed, and you have felt God's love.
Deanna moved to her house in 2010. Her son Tymel was taken from us on April 23rd 2014, by gun violence. Deanna chose to stay in her home. She chose to try and to turn her pain into power.
Since then, everyone on the West Side has known that 801 6th St is a place you can go to sign into rehab, to escape from domestic issues, to let out your frustration in hopes of finding a solution, to spend the night when you've got nowhere else to stay, or simply to get a good meal and some tough love.
Barbecues. Block parties. Voter registration. Back to school picnics. Support groups for sex workers. Anti-violence rallies. Youth group meetings. Meet-the-candidate events. Deanna has hosted more community events, and done more emotional labor, in that home in 4 years than most non-profit organizations do in 40 years. She's never been paid a cent for this work.
That generosity has caught up with her. Her landlord has allowed her to stay in this house, continuing to help the community, for months. For economic reasons, he now needs to sell. Deanna received a summons to appear in court the same day she was sworn in as the newest member of Charleston City Council...yet another example of Deanna's desire to serve our community without regard for pay.
To pay the back rent and court fees, and for Deanna to buy the house outright, we need to help her raise $88,495. It's a lot of money, but it is nothing compared to what she and that house have brought to our city. It is nothing compared to what she and that house will continue to bring to our city. The court's deadline is November 30th, or she has to move out. I can't think of any better Christmas gift than to keep Deanna and her family in that house for the holidays. We promise that every single cent we raise (minus the small fraction that gofundme takes) will go directly to Deanna to help keep her in this house.
If you have ever been supported by Deanna, please donate.
If you have ever wanted to make a true and lasting difference in this city, please donate.
If you have ever wished you could do more to help absorb the pain and trauma in our community, please donate.
If you believe in underdogs and good neighbors and the power of prayer, please donate.
For obvious reasons, Deanna and her family are trying to keep some of the specifics of the case private. She has given us permission to establish this gofundme page. If you are interested in donating, but you have further questions, please feel free to e-mail me (Stephen Smith) through this website. I'll try to respond to requests as quickly as I can.
Organizer and beneficiary
Stephen Smith
Organizer
Charleston, WV
Shanequa Smith
Beneficiary