Helping Hands reach out to a neighbor in need
By Patte Smith with photos provided by DERA
Renee Gorman is a wonderful woman, a great mom, and she has Stage IV breast cancer. Like most moms she is crazy about her two kids, a daughter age 12, and a son age 15, and loves her home in Castle Rock where the family has lived for 11 years. “Home and family are important to me and my kids,” states Gorman. “We enjoy our home and spend lots of time here, especially now, and I love having friends and family join us for dinner and visit.”
Gorman notes that since being diagnosed with cancer and going through chemo and other treatments, she is no longer able to work. Relying on social security to pay the bills, Gorman has a tough time making ends meet. Her spending priorities have changed to only taking care of the basics. She can no longer keep up her house, so in stepped Helping Hands.
Helping Hands, an organization founded by the Douglas Elbert REALTOR® Association (DERA), heard about Renee and decided to help her. “Helping Hands started last year,” stated Lisa Kallweit, a member of the group. “Several of us in the realtors’ association wanted to form a community outreach program and the outcome was Helping Hands.” Last year the group donated its time and effort to help Sky Cliff Center, an adult day care and stroke support group.
This year Helping Hands chose Gorman. Several of the association members, as well as members of the community and several Castle Pines residents, gathered August 19 and 20 to paint Gorman’s house, do some landscape work, repair the deck and make repairs inside the home. The Castle Rock Fire Department contributed its time on one of the days, and several individuals supplied food and drinks for the volunteers.
“I feel blessed that the Douglas Elbert REALTOR® Association chose me as the recipient for their Helping Hands program,” said Gorman. “Wow, I was so excited and my house looks great. I am hoping that my children can live here for a long time. Community-based projects have a positive impact on our community and bring joy to both the giver and the receiver.”
Gorman emphasizes that she wants to keep a happy attitude and spend as much time with her children as she can while creating special memories for them. Helping Hands definitely made a very special memory for her and for her children. People reaching out to others do make a difference in peoples lives.
Contact the Douglas Elbert REALTOR® Association for more information on how you can participate in future Helping Hands projects or contact Lisa Kallweit at 303-688-0941.
