FAMILY OF EIGHT GETS HOME WITH CHURCH'S HELP

What would have been ditch-filler instead became a home for a family of 10 this week, thanks to St. Vincent de Paul Church.

Denis Rigdon, co-chairman of the church's Christian Service Fund, oversaw delivery of a two-bedroom mobile home to eight children and their parents in Kennett Friday morning. The unit will replace the dilapidated mobile home the family had lived in.

"The roof's horrible and had leaks everywhere. It was a bad situation," said Rigdon of the family's former home. "This home is older but has had only one owner and is in pretty good shape. The owner was going to dump it in a ditch he needed to fill, but when we suggested he donate it, he agreed."

Rigdon said the church became aware of the family through Brother Ken Lund, a Vincentian brother living in the parish. Lund works with migrant farmers in Southeast Missouri as part of the Missouri Migrant Farmworkers Program.

"They just look for Spanish-speaking people who just need help and try to help them," Rigdon said. "This has all been done through Brother Ken and what he's done."

The church has owned the mobile home about three months but was unable to coordinate delivery efforts. Administrators at Notre Dame Regional High School stored the unit at the school until a company or individual would agree to transport it to Kennett.

"We're really thankful for the people here at the school and for Dickerson (Mobile Home Transport Services of Jackson)," Rigdon said. "It's just a matter of connecting had having God send to the right places at the right times."