Help Rene Save Her Home from Mine Subsidence

Hi! My name is Carol Palmer, and I'm a friend of Maureen (Rene) Bird. Those of you who have met Rene know her to be an extremely kind-hearted, generous, and giving soul. If you follow her Facebook page, you know that Rene has spent the entire month of December making daily posts about the blessings for which she is grateful - her "eyes to see the beauty of a winter sunrise," her "hands that allow her to help others," and the "freedom to make choices in praising God."

Last week, she went into her basement to get some Christmas decorations and was horrified to discover that her house has been affected by mine subsidence. One basement wall is badly cracked and bowed inward. The Western Pennsylvania area has thousands of abandoned coal mines and, unfortunately, there is no coverage for subsidence on a standard homeowner's insurance policy. A contractor has inserted temporary supports to try to keep the damage from progressing, but the situation is pretty dire. At best, the cost to stabilize and repair the wall will be substantial. The worst case will be that the house becomes uninhabitable, and Rene will lose her home.

As many of you know, Rene is a senior citizen and legally blind, so I am in the process of helping her fill out an application for a loan that will help cover the cost of repairs. The loan, however, will need to be repaid, and Rene's sole source of income is Social Security. And if the contractor determines that it is not even feasible to repair the wall, then Rene will need money to buy a trailer or modular home that she can set up on the property.

Yet in spite of this adversity, Rene doesn't complain or feel sorry for herself. She has continued to make daily Facebook posts thanking God for the things she is grateful for - "the prayers that have been sent" to her, a "warm bowl of chili," and "peace and joy" during the holiday season. I know it's a lot to ask of you to make a donation "right now," but the situation with the wall is urgent. Any help that you can give to this exceptionally kind-hearted woman would be very much appreciated. I will continue to post updates as we find out more from the contractor. Thank you, and may God bless you and your family during this holiday season!