Document text
MONDAY February 23, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 20, 2003 Adopted family gets home "We couldn't ask for a more beautiful place." Teresa Bush | New Ashland resident By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Four-year-old Eve Bush Kempe was a proud little hostess as she showed off her family's new apartment. She giggled and smiled as she plopped-down on blankets in her closet and showed her new toys. "This my home," Eve said proudly. "And it has walls." Eve Bush Kempe,4, and Alaska Bush Kempe, 2, spread their toys and blankets on their floor of the family's new aprartment. Satsuki Doi | Ashland Daily Tidings Only a few days ago, she and her family's home was a small tent at a campground on the outskirts of town. Thanks to help from the community, such as local churches and a senior center, Eve, her parents and her little brother moved into an apartment on Siskiyou Boulevard on Tuesday. They had been sleeping in their car and at camp sites since November. While the apartment is only sparsely furnished, Teresa Bush, 25, Eve's mother, is grateful for all her family has been given. "It's magical," she said. "I can't think of anther place that would come together for a family they don't even know... In other places I've lived, they never smile at you and shut doors on you, but in Ashland, people you don't even know will smile and talk to you. We wanted a good community like this for our children." Teresa, her husband Allan Kempe, 36, son Alaska, 2, and Eve, moved to Ashland in December after they left a Arizona trailer park in November for personal reasons. By the time they reached Ashland, the family had only $200 to their name. The couple had stayed in Ashland six years ago after hitchhiking on their honeymoon and feel in love with the town. Kempe, a carpenter, found a job recently in construction. But he does not receive his first month's salary until next month. While his work place gave him a $340 advance, it was not enough to pay for an apartment. Bush said while the family has had financial difficulty before, this was the first time they had ever lived in a car and a tent with the children. She decided to go the Interfaith Care Community of Ashland (ICCA ) for assistance. "I've never had to ask for help before, but I will do anything for my kids," Bush said. ICCA's housing manager, Jean Halliam, gave her names of churches and other organizations that could assist her. Help also came from the residents of Skylark Assisted Living & Enhanced Care in Ashland. Melissa Krehbiel, director of activities at the home, said each year, the seniors donate money raised from a craft fair and bake sale to different charitable organizations. This year, she decided to do something different and actually adopt a family in need and host a Christmas Eve dinner with presents for them. "This year we wanted to get close and personal and be the ones to make a difference," she said. After hearing of the families plight from ICCA, the senior home decided they wanted to help. Besides the more than $100 from the fundraiser, the residents and staff wanted to do more to help. While the majority of the seniors are on a very limited income, they did their best to help and were able to raise nearly $200. Krehbiel said. "I think they were shocked there was a family living in a tent in Ashland," she said. "They started to give what they could." Skylark resident Jerry Wanberg gave about $20 worth of coins he kept for bingo money. "He said he had a home and he wanted to give," Krehbiel said. Wanberg said he only knew too well what the family was going through. "It was important to help that family," he said. "I've been in that situation myself. Back in 1952 or 1953 I lived in a little 14-foot camper trailer with 3 kids. It's hard, although I've had a good life ever since... I want them to know how proud I am that they stuck together as a family." Local churches such as Rivergate Church, the First Presbyterian Church in Ashland, Catholic Church-Our Lady of the Mountain and the senior center, have given several hundred dollars to help the family pay for rent and deposits. The senior center and the churches already have clothing, furniture, gifts and beds to give to the family. Bush said with a steady paycheck from her husband beginning next month, the family should be OK. She and her family are overwhelmed by all the generosity of the community and can't believe their good luck in receiving help in securing a place to call home. "It's wonderful" she said. "We have our own shower and toilet. We couldn't ask for a more beautiful place." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: A new improved archive search is coming! Look for it in mid-February! .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams