(WBIR-Alcoa) Family Promise of Blount County works with homeless families to help them get back on their feet. The group has worked in a partnership to renovate four apartment buildings in Alcoa for families to live in as they transition to permanent housing.
The recent renovation project would not have happened without volunteers. One family made a point to help to give back.
The pipes in the original building were in terrible shape until Rick and Susan Thomas showed up.
"We completely re-did all the plumbing in it. All new water lines, sewer lines, everything. We completely re-did that so it is all new," Susan Thomas said.
They did not hesitate to volunteer for this plumbing project.
"Give back to Family Promise. They helped us immensely," Rick Thomas said.
Susan said, "This was an opportunity for us to give back to them as appreciation for what they did for us, and all the volunteers and churches and all that."
Back in 2011, the couple and their two children moved from Florida and were camping in Townsend. Then they went in to the Family Promise program.
"It was such a relief as a parent to know that we were protected as parents and that our children would have a roof over their head and food so we wouldn't have to worry about that part," Susan remembered.
They did not know how long they would be in the program.
"We did what we were supposed to do. We job hunted. We didn't worry about the food, we didn't worry.. and that's what Family Promise does for you. It takes away that burden from you so that you have the peace of mind. You don't have to worry about that. You can do what you're supposed to do," she said.
They were in the program 41 days.
"Twenty days after being in the program I got a job. Then 21 days later after that we had an apartment," Rick said.
Rick is a successful plumber who started R. Thomas Plumbing and he and his family now lives in Louisville, Tennessee.
"I couldn't have done it without Family Promise really. They gave us all the resources necessary," Rick said.
Susan said, "We will never walk away from Family Promise. We will always be there for them."
