The Georgetown Beard Club is working with the community to help a local family in need.
“There is a local couple, Bill and Lillian Black, who have spent their lives helping others in need,” the organization wrote. “Over the years the couple, who are in their late 70s and have health issues of their own, have adopted eight children with disabilities. Three of their adopted sons, who are now in their 30s, still live with them and one is wheelchair-bound.”
Rob Kiddie, president of the Georgetown Beard Club, told Hello Georgetown this entire effort has been made possible thanks to the work of Chris and Emily Hamilton.
“We talked about how we could help and being that we do music and have a lot of community connections, we could play and do a fundraiser,” Emily Hamilton told Hello Georgetown. “We raised about 4k dollars that weekend and went out to surprise them. We thought we were just fixing their plumbing and a hole in the roof. Little did we know how much more they needed.”
Frozen and busted pipes have meant the family has been without running water in their home ever since the February storm, relying on their well that provides them access to clean water.
Additionally, the Black family roof has a hole in it preventing one of their sons from sleeping in his room. Add to this the leaks causing extensive water damage to the inside of the home, and many non-functioning plumbing fixtures.
The demolition phase of the home refurbishment is under way | Image Courtesy: Emily Hamilton
“The more we knew that we needed to make it right for them again,” Hamilton said. “We have been amazed at the connections and help we’ve gotten along the way. Also at all the people we’ve met that have been touched by them over the years. They are very deserving. Lil told me one day that we really didn’t have to do all this and it wasn’t our job. I told her God decided it was. We’re still taking it day by day and item by item, but we’re determined to get it done and will not stop till we do.”
The original goal was to repair the busted pipes, fix the roof, and trim the trees to give the family access once again to indoor plumbing and their fireplace. Now, the project has expanded to refurbish the home to make it livable once more including new siding, a new window, and all new drywall.
So far, Kiddie said, the organization has raised approximately $40,000 and the demolition phase of the refurbishing project is now underway, but fundraising is still and ongoing and needed.
To donate, either visit the Georgetown Beard Club website and click on the “Lend a Hand” button, or send a donation via Venmo to @Georgetown-Beard-Club. You can also mail a check to:
Georgetown Beard Club
Attn: Lend a Hand
P.O. Box 2772
Georgetown, Texas
78627
For more information about the project and it’s progress, click here.
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