Just outside St. Louis, the Smith family received an unexpected surprise this Mother’s Day thanks to the First Things First Foundation and one of its primary sponsors: U-Haul.
As a result of the Homes for the Holidays project, the family of three was gifted a fully furnished home. The First Things First Foundation, started by NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and his wife, Brenda, assists two low-income, working single-parent families each year in the St. Louis area by helping them achieve their dream of home ownership.
The foundation also assists families in Arizona, where U-Haul is also a proud partner.
U-Haul of St. Louis volunteers
“As the opportunity presents itself to surprise new families with this blessing, we know we can rely on U-Haul to assist,” notes Jennifer Zink, First Things First executive director. “U-Haul donates in-kind and volunteer support, which are critical for us as an organization with such a small staff.”
For the last decade, U-Haul has partnered with the Warners and First Things First. The partnership has enabled Team Member volunteers in St. Louis and Phoenix to shop for the homes, decorate the homes, and attend the home reveals.
Before the Smiths connected with homebuilder Habitat for Humanity, they were renting a two-bedroom, 600-square-foot home. The rental did not have a backyard for the children to play outside.
Going Above and Beyond
“The 4-year-old boy, Aidan, wanted Batman (decorations) for his room, and the 1-year-old girl, Amelia, likes pink,” Zink shares. “Her room is decorated with pink and white Minnie Mouse bedding.”
In addition to fully furnishing every home, volunteers take into consideration the interests and preferences of each future resident. Once given the bedroom colors and themes, U-Haul volunteers begin their search for the perfect items.
General Manager Erica Norman of U-Haul Moving & Storage of University City has volunteered three years in a row with Homes for the Holidays.
“The shopping portion of the volunteer day is fun,” Norman explains. “Our goal is always to find things that the family will love so that the reveal is a special moment. Everyone involved with building and decorating the home comes to see the reveal. The reaction of the deserving family is priceless.”
Mothers’ Day Surprise
U-Haul volunteers shop for the Smith home
On May 7, the Smiths arrived at their new home to find the Warners and U-Haul volunteers waiting. The Warners’ surprise appearance, in addition to the ribbon cutting and customary prayer of thanks, added to the moment.
The Smiths’ ranch home has three bedrooms and one bathroom. A full basement contains a washer and dryer hookup. And each bedroom is decorated to the liking of its occupant.
“Volunteer events show how deeply U-Haul cares about the families we serve,” says Ray Reome, executive assistant for U-Haul Company of St. Louis. “It’s fun to help out, and it’s also rewarding to see those less fortunate receive such a tremendous gift.”
The Mission
U-Haul enriches the communities in which we do business by assisting charitable organizations that address the most basic human needs: food, clothing and shelter.
This has long been the scope of the Company’s community outreach because we view mobility as a basic need for every family, and work to keep costs low to meet that need. Co-founded by a WWII Navy veteran in 1945, U-Haul is also a proud supporter of many military and veteran groups and causes that provide for these basic needs.
Thank you to U-Haul Team Members and their family members who assisted: Karen Jackson, Sharon Nelson, Rachel Norise, Erica Norman, Colleen Reome and Ray Reome.
Did you know U-Haul Team Members in Phoenix recently volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a family in need?
