Bella's Place
Donation protected
As adults it is our accountability to sustain our world and turn negatives into positives efforts, especially when a young life is lost to a tragedy. That is what happened to Bella. She was a beautiful 8 year old girl with a full life ahead of her. She had a beautiful spirit and shared kindness and friendship to those she met. She never met a stranger, immediately she would befriend people making sure they had enough of what they needed. She wasn't stupid, she knew the drug addict life of her mom and stepdad as well as the inner circle of drug addicts that they hung out with. She would take care of those other children who fell victim to the lifestyle. She would feed them, share her clothes, buy them ice creams with of course the proceeds from her parents drug business.
Her father was in another state dealing with his own addictions and trying to get himself clean to raise other children and eventually get Bella. Unfortunately that did not happen soon enough.
On September 1, 2014 Bella's mom, stepfather and step grandma spent the day entertaining and getting high with their so called friend and soon to be the kidnapper, child abuser and murderer of Bella.
That night the mother and step dad left the house leaving Bella and her sister, Kaylee in the care of Justin Rector. the step grandma was sleeping upstairs. It took just minutes when the kids were playing hide and go seek for my world to change. Kaylee had to make herself something to eat then went to the bathroom. When she came out Justin and Bella were gone. She searched and searched frantically. they were never to be found. I later heard the recording that kaylee left on her mother's phone. She was devastated.
To be a 10 year old searching for her kidnapped 8 year old sister is unbearable.
2 days later Bella’s body was found in a shallow grave just ½ mile from her home. A home she thought was safe. This kidnapping and murder changed the community of Bullhead City, Arizona. I watched as is all unfolded. So desperate to change the past and bring her back but knowing I never could. Then it came to me. I knew God's purpose for my life.
I started to make my plans. I found out how to become a foster mom and I spent weeks going to classes and getting my foster care license. I was going to build Bella’s Place. A foster care home for children where they could feel safe and feel loved. Somewhere they could come and spend time with animals for therapy and other children and just be kids. They could come here and play in the dirt, ride quads, horses, go to a great school. And of all the most important was to be loved and feel safe.
Now within a year I have 6 kids. 5 of them are Bella’s siblings. We have outgrown our 5 bedroom home that I rent and have no more room for other foster kids. I bought a 3 acre parcel to build a bigger Bella’s Place.
Here is my vision. a 6-7 bedroom home with a basement as big as the top part of the house. We will have a big playroom, indoor animal room, tv room and bathroom. In the play room we will have a “Bella’s angels” wall. it will have handprints of children that she loved as well as people can send in a handprint of a child and have a donation in their name.
The top of the home will have bedrooms, a family room, a large kitchen with a few tables so we can have a sit down family dinner every night. We will also need at least 3 bathrooms on top.
The bedrooms will have built in beds for more room and accommodations.
On The property we will have a corral; and a barn. We will have horses, chickens, goats and other livestock. The children will have chores and transfer their parentified behaviors to caring for the animals. We will have a deck built around the house with a garden to plant veggies and be self sustaining as much as possible. In the front yard we will have pavers with names engraved of those who donated to the home. We will have a fence around the acres to help the kids feel more secure. We will also have a large garage.
Here is where the going gets tough for me. I have never been really good at asking for help. However I do need help to make this a reality. Now I am asking for the children. I have done my due diligence on the 501C3 process. It would make it easier for the donors because of tax deductions but I have decided against it. Here’s why. There are many group homes run by a board of directors making decisions that affect the tenant's. I don't want that. I want a home where kids can come and it's a real home. Where they can grow up and come back with their families and feel welcome. A home that teaches them what a real family is. Where we sit down for dinner, say grace and talk about the day.
Kaylee plans on being a veterinarian and eventually she or one of the other kids can take it over and continue the vision of Bella’s place. A home for foster kids where they can be loved and feel safe.
Isn't it up to us to make this world better for our kids and grandkids?
Here are some talents and items that we need donated. If you can provide anything it will help
A surveyor to lay out the land
donation of septic system
lift station
donation to dig then underground utilities
donation to rent equipment to dig utilities
Donations of powerlines and pole
cement for foundation
someone to research plans online and come up with the plans for the home
donation of wood for building the house and barn
Corral material even if it is used it works. Maybe someone no longer wants a corral
A donation for a water tank
A landscaper to set up the yard
Appliances
Someone that wants to act as a project manager and to pull permits.
If you want donate your time or any thing it will be appreciated. I will be building this with as much of my own money as I can.
Her father was in another state dealing with his own addictions and trying to get himself clean to raise other children and eventually get Bella. Unfortunately that did not happen soon enough.
On September 1, 2014 Bella's mom, stepfather and step grandma spent the day entertaining and getting high with their so called friend and soon to be the kidnapper, child abuser and murderer of Bella.
That night the mother and step dad left the house leaving Bella and her sister, Kaylee in the care of Justin Rector. the step grandma was sleeping upstairs. It took just minutes when the kids were playing hide and go seek for my world to change. Kaylee had to make herself something to eat then went to the bathroom. When she came out Justin and Bella were gone. She searched and searched frantically. they were never to be found. I later heard the recording that kaylee left on her mother's phone. She was devastated.
To be a 10 year old searching for her kidnapped 8 year old sister is unbearable.
2 days later Bella’s body was found in a shallow grave just ½ mile from her home. A home she thought was safe. This kidnapping and murder changed the community of Bullhead City, Arizona. I watched as is all unfolded. So desperate to change the past and bring her back but knowing I never could. Then it came to me. I knew God's purpose for my life.
I started to make my plans. I found out how to become a foster mom and I spent weeks going to classes and getting my foster care license. I was going to build Bella’s Place. A foster care home for children where they could feel safe and feel loved. Somewhere they could come and spend time with animals for therapy and other children and just be kids. They could come here and play in the dirt, ride quads, horses, go to a great school. And of all the most important was to be loved and feel safe.
Now within a year I have 6 kids. 5 of them are Bella’s siblings. We have outgrown our 5 bedroom home that I rent and have no more room for other foster kids. I bought a 3 acre parcel to build a bigger Bella’s Place.
Here is my vision. a 6-7 bedroom home with a basement as big as the top part of the house. We will have a big playroom, indoor animal room, tv room and bathroom. In the play room we will have a “Bella’s angels” wall. it will have handprints of children that she loved as well as people can send in a handprint of a child and have a donation in their name.
The top of the home will have bedrooms, a family room, a large kitchen with a few tables so we can have a sit down family dinner every night. We will also need at least 3 bathrooms on top.
The bedrooms will have built in beds for more room and accommodations.
On The property we will have a corral; and a barn. We will have horses, chickens, goats and other livestock. The children will have chores and transfer their parentified behaviors to caring for the animals. We will have a deck built around the house with a garden to plant veggies and be self sustaining as much as possible. In the front yard we will have pavers with names engraved of those who donated to the home. We will have a fence around the acres to help the kids feel more secure. We will also have a large garage.
Here is where the going gets tough for me. I have never been really good at asking for help. However I do need help to make this a reality. Now I am asking for the children. I have done my due diligence on the 501C3 process. It would make it easier for the donors because of tax deductions but I have decided against it. Here’s why. There are many group homes run by a board of directors making decisions that affect the tenant's. I don't want that. I want a home where kids can come and it's a real home. Where they can grow up and come back with their families and feel welcome. A home that teaches them what a real family is. Where we sit down for dinner, say grace and talk about the day.
Kaylee plans on being a veterinarian and eventually she or one of the other kids can take it over and continue the vision of Bella’s place. A home for foster kids where they can be loved and feel safe.
Isn't it up to us to make this world better for our kids and grandkids?
Here are some talents and items that we need donated. If you can provide anything it will help
A surveyor to lay out the land
donation of septic system
lift station
donation to dig then underground utilities
donation to rent equipment to dig utilities
Donations of powerlines and pole
cement for foundation
someone to research plans online and come up with the plans for the home
donation of wood for building the house and barn
Corral material even if it is used it works. Maybe someone no longer wants a corral
A donation for a water tank
A landscaper to set up the yard
Appliances
Someone that wants to act as a project manager and to pull permits.
If you want donate your time or any thing it will be appreciated. I will be building this with as much of my own money as I can.
Organizer
Sue Winchester
Organizer
Williams, AZ
