Kelly Fenton- Make his home livable this winter.

For as long as I can remember, my father has been the kindest, most devoted and hardworking man in my life. His life has served as a beautiful example of love and compassion for his fellow man, and his service to community is unmatched. Kelly has spent more than half a century taking care of everyone around him and has never complained about the injustice or hardships he himself has faced. Rather, every time life has knocked him to the ground with a curveball out of left field, he’s gotten back up, dusted himself off, and gotten back to work. That’s just the kind of guy he is.

And it’s exactly because of the kind of guy he is that he’s never reached out to any of us for help himself. My father would sooner suffer in humble silence than burden his friends and family. When he left my home in North Carolina more than six years ago to restart his life in California, I worried about his advancing age. I worried about the long hard road he had ahead of himself – to build a new home, a new life – and I worried that he was once again shouldering a burden greater than he should. But, as always, my tough-as-nails father persevered with a quiet determination and grit uncommon to most.

Six plus years of hard work have taken their toll on him. There’s no denying that the work of rebuilding his life in a new environment whilst simultaneously building his home was a challenge not many of us would so readily undertake. But Kelly has done both with a smile and positive attitude that has inspired me countless times. And to further complicate his already arduous goal, he’s volunteered his time and energy to help those around him since the moment he arrived back in CA.

It is for these reasons, and so many more, that I’m reaching out to you all today. We all love and respect Kelly for the great man that he is, and we all know that his reluctance to accept (let alone ask for!) any help has only exacerbated his situation. As a quick recap for those who may be unfamiliar with all the details of Kelly’s current situation: more than six years ago, dad purchased a piece of property on the lost coast of California in Shelter Cove. He had already lost so much due to an unjust circumstance, but he wasted no time feeling sorry for himself. He simply packed up and moved back west with the implicit goal of building himself a home to live out his days in. Over the last six years he’s worked tirelessly to do just that, but it has been no small undertaking. After more than half a decade of work, the house is nearing completion but still has a way to go. He has completed the framing and roof (effectively “drying in” the house) as well as roughing-in most of the electrical and plumbing. He’s ready for insulation, drywall, lights, gas, heater, flooring, etc. but cannot legally reside in the space until he’s completed these items. Until then, and for the last 6 years, he’s been living in shared spaces, and a camper behind the house he’s building, with limited utilities. While he always tries to put the best most positive spin he can on things, I know that his yearning to be in a real home grows more sincere every day. And with the winter approaching, I worry for him every day. My father is nearly 72 years old and the constant stress of living so closely in the elements, combined with the harsh physical strain of completing this work himself is wreaking havoc on his body. I talk to him often, and he still cannot seem to accept that at 72 it’s no wonder his joints are hurting, or his muscles are giving out at times. He wants so badly to finish the project he started so long ago, and to enjoy his twilight years in peace in the home that he built for himself. But at this rate, and given the rising costs of material and labor, it seems highly unlikely that he’ll be able to do so anytime soon. I’d estimate that at this pace he’s still a couple winters out from completing the home and satisfying the inspector’s requirements. And as a man in his 70’s, time is the one commodity he simply cannot afford.

And that, my friends, is where you all come in. I can think of no better way to honor my father – a man we all love and have the utmost respect for – than to come together to help him realize his dream of finishing this home. With our combined help, I believe we can purchase the remaining materials and labor needed to finish this home ahead of the winter and ensure Kelly has a warm bed to sleep in at night. On October 27th, Kelly will turn 72 years old. My fervent dream is to present him that day with a collection of funds from his loved ones that he can use to finally make his dream a reality. If you can, please consider helping us help this man that has spent so many years helping us all. Thank you from the bottom of mine and my family’s hearts