Danielle and her father Bill were living in Pennsylvania. One Thanksgiving they made a trip to Florida to visit family, and their lives would never be the same.

Bill has medical issues that require dialysis. They had to find a center to administer the treatment while he and Danielle were in the area. During his routine treatment, the center found that he had some blood clots that had been missed at the center in PA. They took such good care of him that Danielle and Bill made the decision to move to Florida.

When Danielle called Love In the Name of Christ, she called for help with a refrigerator. During the Intake and Verification Process, a Clearinghouse Volunteer from Fairway Christian Church took the time to listen to her story and ask questions to get to know her. Danielle told her that she and her dad own a home across the street from her aunt and uncle. She also shared that she is Bill’s sole caretaker. She does this while coping with her own medical issues that are significant enough to require her to be on disability.

Once the Verification Process was complete, two Site Visit Volunteers from St. George Episcopal Church visited the home where Danielle and Bill live. The Site Visit Volunteers found that in addition to the fridge, they needed a couple of other furniture items and some home repairs. There was some flooring that was rolled up and causing Bill to trip, and a hole under the sink that was large enough for animals to get into the house.

The Handyman Ministry from North Lake Presbyterian Church came and made the repairs, making the home safer and more sanitary. They are still working with Danielle to make some other more minor repairs. The Furniture and Appliance Ministry, including a volunteer from First Baptist Church at the Villages, delivered a dining room table and chairs, a dresser, and a lift chair in addition to the refrigerator that Danielle initially asked for.

Once everything was delivered and in place, Danielle called the Clearinghouse. She spoke to a Clearinghouse Volunteer from Tri County Baptist Church and expressed her gratitude for the material items and for the help she and her dad received.

The role of Love INC is not to replace the Church but to help churches distribute their skills, gifts, resources, and love to communities in need – In the Name of Christ. Because the local church came together and each did what they could, Danielle and Bill were cared for both materially and relationally. Investment in the holistic care of people is making a difference in lives every day.