A Mother, a Daughter, and a Home Worth Holding On To

In a quiet Wilmington neighborhood, where the same families have waved from their porches for more than four decades, Amelia’s mother still lives in the home she and her late husband worked tirelessly to secure. It is a place shaped by sacrifice and held together by faith.

“It was a gathering of our family that made it feel like home,” Amelia said. “All of us were together and it was a nice neighborhood we were becoming a part of… we have known [our neighbors] for in excess of 40 years.”

Family photo

But the house that had sheltered so much began revealing hidden dangers. Rainwater, funneled improperly for years, had rotted the wood by the back door. One morning, as Amelia stepped inside, she fell through the floor. Her mother had also suffered repeated falls, including one that tore her rotator cuff. The bathtub was too high to step over safely. The stairs were narrow and unsteady.

“It was such a sacrifice to get here,” she said. “Over the years the stuff is in sore need, and my money isn’t like what it used to be. Her money isn’t like what it used to be… WARM NC fills that gap and it helps keep her here.”

When WARM NC volunteers arrived, they brought not only tools but reassurance. They repaired the rotted landing, rebuilt the unsafe steps, improved the locks, and installed a walk-in shower with grab bars.

“Bathing… that is the greatest and biggest difference,” Amelia said. “She can get herself in and out… she always has a hand on a bar.”

New grab bars

For her mother, the last of 13 children, a retired school worker, and a volunteer foster grandparent for 17 years, aging safely at home is not simply a preference; it’s an expression of dignity. She raised her children to lead with service and example. Seeing WARM’s volunteers in her home felt familiar.

“My mother has a missionary heart,” Amelia said. “So to have a program like WARM, see you exemplify all of that… we feel connected because the values WARM exemplifies are the same ones we embrace.”

Amelia, Homeowner

Their gratitude is both emotional and practical.

“A donation to WARM NC is the best investment you can make because although it’s money it is life changing,” Amelia said. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

Her mother added simply, “I’m thankful for WARM NC. I’m most thankful for life and the ability to touch, see, hear, and taste. I’m just so thankful for my family.”

For this family, the repairs did more than stabilize a home. They preserved the place where stories live, where generations gather, and where a mother can keep aging in the space she loves most