Cynthia Welch

I have lived in Beaufort, South Carolina for 20 years, and currently reside at 905 Church St—the house I grew up in and inherited from my grandmother. She was the oldest living person in Beaufort, passing away in 2016 at the age of 108. After her tragic death, I lost my father just six months later in Atlanta, and then my only sister not long after that. My grandmother gave me this house because my husband and I were struggling to find a place to stay, living in our car and hotels while he worked in sales. We returned to Atlanta for a while, but my grandmother asked me to live in her house until she was well enough to come back. Sadly, she never made it back, and after her passing, my father—who was a two-time Purple Heart recipient and Marine Corps veteran—also passed away. My sister, who was supposed to live with me, struggled with mental health and tragically took her own life. Since moving into the house, I've faced constant challenges with repairs. I haven't had running water for five years because I can't afford to fix the pipes and other urgent issues. My husband does landscaping, but his business isn't making money because he lacks the tools, and I work as a housekeeper at a hotel, barely making enough to pay bills. The house needs a new toilet, pipe repairs, roof work, and a complete makeover for the kitchen and bedrooms. Without these repairs, I'm afraid my home will be taken away or collapse, leaving me homeless. I have no family left to help, and I'm struggling to keep the house livable. Anyone who is compassionate and has the gift of giving, as God said in the Bible, could help me keep my house. I want to preserve its history and pass it down to my step-grandkids someday. Any support means the world to me.