A new roof for The Cooks!!!
Donation protected
I’m asking for help and/or donations for my good friends, The Cooks. In short, they need a new roof in a serious way, Celeste is fully disabled, and Bill just found out that he will need a heart transplant.
Bill and Celeste are truly two of the hardest working people that I’ve ever met and that’s why I reach out to give something back to them. They deserve it….they’ve earned it.
I met Celeste, a feisty ball of energy who couldn’t keep our building clean enough, many many years ago! She went by the name “Momma” around work and everyone absolutely adored her. In an unfortunate turn of events, she had a stroke right before Thanksgiving one year. While working to get her on disability, and getting her approved for speech therapy, she had another stroke further debilitating her. She is now fully disabled and is unable to speak the same, walk the same, and unable to continue working a strenuous cleaning job.
During that battle, her husband “Mr. Bill”, not only picked up many shifts at work in order to make ends meet, but would print out speech therapy packets online to help her since insurance wouldn’t cover her. He has been fully dedicated to her recovery regardless of his own health issues.
Mr. Bill is one of the kindest men I know. Despite his own health issues, he has NEVER missed a day of work unless he was actually admitted into the hospital (and one time I forced him to go to the ER). He shows up early so he can get a head start and makes sure that we have fresh coffee to start our days even though he doesn’t have to. He has impeccable work ethic!
A couple years ago, after a rush to the ER, we found that his gall bladder had to be taken out. That surgery ended up resulting in another for a hernia. After that, he was still not feeling 100%, and after another ER visit, found out he had a 95% blockage and needed a stent placement in an artery. He received the stent surgery, and to his dismay has still not felt 100%. A recent test has shown that he has advanced coronary disease and his Dr. has advised him that he needs a heart transplant.
He is a veteran, a hard worker, and has truly been dealt a bad hand with his health recently. No matter what, he is still at work EVERY SINGLE DAY without fail to help support his wife and family.
His biggest fear is that something happens to him and Celeste is left in their home without the ability to take care of it. In short…it’s kind of falling apart. Their roof leaks terribly, and despite his own efforts to band aid the problems, years of leaks has led to severe damage and black mold. He needs a new roof!!
We have met some great people who have volunteered their labor and roofing expertise, but we need materials. We will need plywood, shingles, roofing nails, sheetrock, etc….. We want to help them get their home back together, give them some peace of mind, and help them begin to rebuild their lives in the home that they have lived in for many, many years.
They don’t have a lot of money, the house doesn’t have homeowners insurance, and they don’t qualify for any current VA programs, habitat for humanity, SHIP, council against aging, etc….. We have tried!
We are hoping that little by little, we can help get what we need to help this family regain a SAFE place to live and have some comfort knowing that their house will stay standing regardless of what health challenges might be ahead for Bill to conquer once again. Trust me, he is way too stubborn to go anywhere J
Please consider donating something to help us reach our goal. If you cannot donate monetarily, roofing materials, flooring, and home items would be wonderful! Every little bit helps and is appreciated more than you know!!!
Bill and Celeste are truly two of the hardest working people that I’ve ever met and that’s why I reach out to give something back to them. They deserve it….they’ve earned it.
I met Celeste, a feisty ball of energy who couldn’t keep our building clean enough, many many years ago! She went by the name “Momma” around work and everyone absolutely adored her. In an unfortunate turn of events, she had a stroke right before Thanksgiving one year. While working to get her on disability, and getting her approved for speech therapy, she had another stroke further debilitating her. She is now fully disabled and is unable to speak the same, walk the same, and unable to continue working a strenuous cleaning job.
During that battle, her husband “Mr. Bill”, not only picked up many shifts at work in order to make ends meet, but would print out speech therapy packets online to help her since insurance wouldn’t cover her. He has been fully dedicated to her recovery regardless of his own health issues.
Mr. Bill is one of the kindest men I know. Despite his own health issues, he has NEVER missed a day of work unless he was actually admitted into the hospital (and one time I forced him to go to the ER). He shows up early so he can get a head start and makes sure that we have fresh coffee to start our days even though he doesn’t have to. He has impeccable work ethic!
A couple years ago, after a rush to the ER, we found that his gall bladder had to be taken out. That surgery ended up resulting in another for a hernia. After that, he was still not feeling 100%, and after another ER visit, found out he had a 95% blockage and needed a stent placement in an artery. He received the stent surgery, and to his dismay has still not felt 100%. A recent test has shown that he has advanced coronary disease and his Dr. has advised him that he needs a heart transplant.
He is a veteran, a hard worker, and has truly been dealt a bad hand with his health recently. No matter what, he is still at work EVERY SINGLE DAY without fail to help support his wife and family.
His biggest fear is that something happens to him and Celeste is left in their home without the ability to take care of it. In short…it’s kind of falling apart. Their roof leaks terribly, and despite his own efforts to band aid the problems, years of leaks has led to severe damage and black mold. He needs a new roof!!
We have met some great people who have volunteered their labor and roofing expertise, but we need materials. We will need plywood, shingles, roofing nails, sheetrock, etc….. We want to help them get their home back together, give them some peace of mind, and help them begin to rebuild their lives in the home that they have lived in for many, many years.
They don’t have a lot of money, the house doesn’t have homeowners insurance, and they don’t qualify for any current VA programs, habitat for humanity, SHIP, council against aging, etc….. We have tried!
We are hoping that little by little, we can help get what we need to help this family regain a SAFE place to live and have some comfort knowing that their house will stay standing regardless of what health challenges might be ahead for Bill to conquer once again. Trust me, he is way too stubborn to go anywhere J
Please consider donating something to help us reach our goal. If you cannot donate monetarily, roofing materials, flooring, and home items would be wonderful! Every little bit helps and is appreciated more than you know!!!
Organizer
Letitia Watson
Organizer
Panama City, FL