Michigan church group travels hours to repair woman’s Sevier County home

KODAK, Tenn. (WATE) — A church group from Michigan traveling hundreds of miles to help a Kodak woman with home repairs.

Barbara Apperson’s belonging are all packed up inside her mobile home, due to damage caused by several water leaks.

“After my husband died, we had 21 water leaks and the last three were major leaks and I had a wet rug laying on the floor for like three months before I could get it all pulled up,” Apperson said.

Apperson has searched locally for people to volunteer to help her out.

“I called all over the area,” Apperson said. “Every agency, churches, and nobody from this area would help at all.”

As Apperson had no luck here locally, LifeChange Community Church in Michigan traveled to Kodak to repair the issues.

“We pay for the materials and we have our campers learn how to do the task for them so we can help out a homeowner in need for no cost of them,” Jeanette Carroll, who is working with the church said.

The group of 20 kids making repairs both inside and outside the home.

“We’re cool sealing her roof. We are doing flooring inside. We’re replacing her fixtures like her sink and everything. We’re painting the outside of the house,” Carroll said.

As the kids learn a valuable lesson in helping others.

“You know, getting to serve with one another is a privilege. I hope that they learn some skills, just spend some quality time together,” Caroll said. “Learning about the Lord and learning about the homeowner and doing something for someone else.”

Apperson is happy her house now can now feel like her home again.

“I feel so blessed. There is just no words that they would give up a week of their time to do this. It’s just so awesome,” Apperson said.

The group will be working on the home throughout the week.