LOUISIANA, MO. -- Things are looking up for long-time Louisiana resident Michael Baker and his family.
After being laid off from work, he lost his home insurance last year. Then the unthinkable happened last September when a kitchen fire gutted his family's home.
Baker said, "Emotions take over as your house goes up in flames."
After the fire, community members rallied around the family. Now the Missouri Union Presbytery Disaster Assistance Team is also coming in to help.
More commonly known as the Blue Angels, this year, these members of the Disaster Assistance Team decided to focus their efforts in helping others closer to home. That brought them here to the Bakers for a volunteer work week of gutting and salvaging what they can from the home. But that's proving to be difficult as the home and roof took on major damage during the fire. The goal is to rehabilitate the kitchen, bathroom, and two living areas this week. Volunteers say that will allow the family to get back into its home and back on its feet. So far, area churches and organizations have raised nine thousand dollars to purchase building supplies.
But they say even though they're putting in the elbow grease to get this family under its own roof, they're the ones who are benefiting the most.
Columbia Volunteer Kathy Montgomery said, "It's not necessarily what you leave behind but what you take with you. You give and your pay it forward."
But for Michael Baker and his family, these volunteers are an answer to prayers.
Baker said, "It's like a blessing. Words can't describe what it means to us."
If you would like to volunteer contact (573)754-0009 or (573)470-0769.
You can also send donations to the work via the Elmwood Presbyterian Church at 2400 North Carolina Street, in Louisiana. Please send in care of Wes Patton.
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