I can't tell you how much I love hearing news like this!  It seems that a woman named Delores Smith in Accokeek, MD, who has worked as a foster mother to over 125 children, is on the right path to getting her home re-built.  She was evicted in 2003 after the house was condemned due to an oil leak.  Turns out the oil company was found negligent but no damages were awarded.  Since then she has been living in a poorly insulated farm house that her parents owned.

     Fortunately, Terry Barnes, a local homebuilder, heard the story and has stepped in to help.  He's now working with volunteers to get her home rebuilt.  Also stepping up to the plate is Bill Hocker, a lender with Countrywide and president of Southern Maryland Business Network.  They have stated that they will use all available resources to assist in rebuilding the home.

     I think it's outstanding to hear about projects like this.   Here is a woman who has dedicated her life to helping other people, and finally she's seeing the community she's worked so hard to assist step up when it's needed most.  I can't imagine the dedication it would take to foster so many children over the last 40 years, and I think as a community it's really our duty to make sure that we do our best to look out for people like this.

     Unfortunately I had not heard about this story until this morning, but I can say that I will be calling Bill Hocker this afternoon to see what I can do to help out, and I highly encourage anyone else who has the resource to do the same!