High Socks For Hope

Sunday, May 18, 2014

High Socks For Hope Furnishes Over 100 Homes in New York and New Jersey by Judy Holland (Managing Director, High Socks For Hope)

It's been a while since we updated the blog. It's been a busy time for us! In October 2013 we received a generous donation from Disaster Assistance CoC to help families in Oklahoma. We took a group out and furnished 15 homes in Shawnee, Oklahoma. We also furnished 8 homes in Granbury, Texas that was devastated by a tornado on the same day that Moore, Oklahoma was hit. In Granbury, the tornado destroyed a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood. Hood County Habitat for Humanity rebuilt the homes and we worked with them to furnish a few.

Our Team assessing the damage in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Crosses at the elementary school in Moore, Oklahoma representing the lives lost.

We furnished several children's rooms in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

In December 2013 we were blessed to receive a very generous donation from Bain Capital to furnish homes in New York and New Jersey. We started immediately and as of today we have furnished 77 homes. We will finish up this project this summer and have 30 families lined up to help. We are sad to say that we will have to soon turn families away in New York because the funds are almost gone for that project. If you would like to donate to help Hurricane Sandy devastated families please mail checks to:

High Socks For Hope, Inc.
3617 McFarland Blvd
Northport, AL 35476

If you would like to use a credit card please go to highsocksforhope.com and follow the link to donate.

The following photos are just a few of the families in New York and New Jersey that we have helped in the last 4 months.

Thank you to all of our donors for making it possible to help many families in New York and New Jersey. A special thank you to Bain Capital, Nick's Kids Fund, Long Island Church of Christ, Northport Church of Christ, Lutheran Social Services of New York, MET Council New York, Tunnel2Towers Foundation New York, Gateway Church of Christ Union Beach, New Jersey and the city of Union Beach, New Jersey for helping us help others. Pictured below is Steve Aponte and his sweet wife Laura. Steve has headed up the relief work in New York for us. He has maintained the warehouse, scheduled all the deliveries and delivered many of them himself. We are so grateful to Steve for his desire to help his city. He has volunteered many hours since Superstorm Sandy and is truly a hero to us.

David Robertson has now become the closer for the New York Yankees. He has pledged $100.00 for each recorded strike out and $200.00 for each recorded save in the 2014 season. David and Erin Robertson spend a tremendous amount of their time to help others. Thank you David and Erin for continuing to dedicate so much of your time and money to High Socks For Hope.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Mardedia Wells and a Special Surprise By Judy Holland

Markedia Wells and her sons Javaris and Jalex received a special surprise from David and Erin Robertson and High Socks for Hope! The following is copied off the Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa's website:

"Markedia Wells is a 30 year old native of Tuscaloosa who works at Southern Medical and Surgical Associates to support her two children, Javaris (Jay) and Jalex (Big). Markedia says she always puts her faith in God, and on April 27, 2011, Markedia’s faith was rewarded when she and her two children were spared.

The day of April 27, Markedia was in Alberta City picking up Jay and Big from her mother’s house to take them home. Markedia was going to take a nap while Jay and Big played, but the tornado was moving fast toward Alberta City. The three of them rushed into the boys’ activity room because it had the fewest windows. The wind was blowing through the house rearranging the furniture, fortunately relocating a couch over the three of them that protected them.

Markedia said that all they could do was pray and ask God to deliver them. Their prayers were answered; they had been saved. Sadly, the family’s dog Mister, who would not come inside, was taken by the monstrous tornado.

Markedia removed herself and the boys from what was left of their house. All she could see were trees, and she thought that her house was the only house that had been destroyed. Markedia soon found that not only had her home been destroyed, but almost all of Alberta City was destroyed.

Markedia, the boys, and her mother walked a considerable distance to the Belk Center where they were picked up by Markedia’s brothers. Markedia, the boys, and her mother stayed at a family friend’s home with two other family friends for weeks without any electricity.

Markedia was approved for a Habitat for Humanity house sponsored by Major League Baseball, State Farm, and Player’s Trust and is now a new home owner in Alberta City. She says being approved for a new home is like the American Dream. She wants to thank Habitat for Humanity, Major League Baseball, State Farm, Player’s Trust and High Socks for Hope for this opportunity. She says it is the best thing in the world.

“We were battered and bruised, and we lost material things but more importantly we walked away with the most important thing: life, and life more abundantly glory to God,” Markedia said."

Javaris is an excellent baseball player who has loved the sport since he was four years old. He is an all-star player with dreams of playing for the Yankees like David Robertson.

When David made a trip home in November 2012 he spent some time with Javaris and Jalex. David showed Javaris and his team at Kentuck several techniques that will help them play ball better.

After their home was finished High Socks For Hope furnished the home and we made sure Javaris and Jalex had their favorite themes in their new bedroom!

Markedia, Javaris and Jalex have lived in their home for a year. David and Erin decided this summer that they wanted to give Javaris and Jalex the experience of a Yankees game and bring them to an event with the Trenton Thunders so on August 28, 2013 the three of them boarded a plane for New York for a once in a lifetime trip. The trip included a Trenton Thunder's game, New York Yankees game and a sightseeing tour around New York City. Javaris and Jalex got to hang around their favorite MLB player and mentor David Robertson with his family and even attended a birthday party for Luke Robertson, David's son.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ux8Cx6aQ4k&feature=share

Thank you David Robertson for a once in a lifetime trip full of special memories!

Saturday, August 3, 2013

The Johnson Family by Judy Holland

We would like to show you some of the families that we have helped in the last two years. The Johnson family are one of the first families that we met and wanted to help. Below is the profile page taken off Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa's page.

Robert and Mandy Johnson live in Brookwood, Alabama. They have a total of 6 children between them. Their youngest is Anthony, who has DeGeorge Syndrome, a disorder caused by a defect in chromosome 22. (The disorder causes a variety of medical problems such as heart defects, behavioral disorders, a compromised immune system, loss of hearing, cleft palate, hypoparathyroidism and other serious conditions.)

On April 27th at 5 AM, a tornado ripped through Coaling, Alabama, approximately 8 miles from where the Johnsons lived.When the storm passed, Robert headed to Coaling to help clear debris and help with rescue efforts. He kept hearing reports that more bad weather was on its way, so later that afternoon he headed home to gather his family and head to the tornado shelter located on his neighbor’s property. There were 15 people and 2 dogs crammed into the tiny storm cellar. The cellar had a series of 2 doors, the first of which was ripped off the hinges by the wind. It took 2 teenage boys and 2 grown men to keep the 2nd door closed. Robert recalls the wind roaring and debris and dirt flying into the space. The children were all crying and screaming. Everyone was terrified. When the wind had stopped, they all emerged from the cellar to find complete devastation. Everything the family had was gone. Their home was a pile of rubble and their vehicles were mangled.

This was all that was left of the Johnson's home. They lost everything they owned including their cars.

This was an extremely difficult time for the whole family, but especially for Anthony, who needs his familiar surroundings to feel safe and secure. After living in a small camper for about a month, then moving temporarily into an apartment, then renting a home in Brookwood, the Johnson family are finally living in their new Habitat home.

Their new home was built by Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa with the help of High Socks For Hope Inc., Northport Church of Christ, Nick's Kids Fund, ST Bunn, Dempster Family Foundation, Bama Concrete and several other local companies.The family finally moved into their new home in October 2012.

Anthony asked for a baseball room and was thrilled at all his new things! Anthony met Terry Saban at a Christmas dinner in 2011 and became her fan for life. Nick and Terry Saban signed a football for Anthony's new room. It is also filled with baseball memorabilia from David Robertson and Ryan Dempster.

Bob Johnson and Robert Johnson at the dedication. Bob never gave up on the Johnson family and worked hard to make sure they had a new home. Thank you Bob for your dedication to help Tuscaloosa rebuild.

Justice's room is filled with girly things and she loved it!

The Johnson family in front of their new home September 2012

Robert Johnson. David Robertson, Erin Robertson, Mandy Johnson, Justice Herren, and Anthony Johnson at a Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa Thanksgiving luncheon in November 2011

The Dempster Family Foundation 22 Q Mystery Tour Bus stopped by in

June 2012 to visit and see the house in progress.

How are the Johnson's doing now?

Robert, Mandy and Anthony Johnson are still loving their home in Brookwood. Anthony has so much room to play inside and out. Robert and Mandy Johnson volunteer their extra time with the Brookwood Volunteer Fire Department. Anthony who is now in middle school is thriving and playing baseball just like his hero David Robertson. After all the trauma and the uncertainty the Johnson family are doing wonderful. They now have a basement that their entire family can come to during a tornado. They sleep in the basement whenever there are tornado warnings in Tuscaloosa.....and they feel safe.