YULEE, Fla. – A nonprofit helped an elderly Yulee widow maintain the home that she and her husband built.
Ever since Irene Qualls lost her husband four years ago, she’s had to take care of the house that she and her husband built.
She’s also had to take care of her 10-year-old granddaughter, who she’s the legal guardian of.
“This is a godsend,” Qualls said. “This is definitely a godsend. This is nothing but God working miracles in my life.”
That godsend came from the Both Hands organization, which raises money for couples trying to adopt children, and couples in that process do community service to raise the money.
Ellen Barnard’s family service project was helping Qualls maintain her home.
“Ms. Irene has been a part of our journey church,” Barnard said. “We’re military we moved a year and a half ago and they plugged us in and told us about Ms. Irene and we thought it was the perfect person to help.”
Qualls expressed her appreciation for all the help she’s received.
“I’m all so grateful for the people that came out everywhere,” Qualls said. “We have a man from Miami, who is her stepfather. You’ve got a lot of local churches in the neighborhood that are helping out. I’m so all grateful.”
Qualls can get her property in order which has been extremely difficult since her husband passed away.
“I’ve got this outside maintenance,” Qualls said. “This big tree that needs to be cut down. If you turn around and look at the yard they’re doing all something in my yard. Pressure washing the house, the gutters. It’s so much. Putting new fences in. cleaning the screen door. Been crying all day.”