Local Hero Gives Tornado Victims a New Home

(May 11, 2012) - Sometimes, when a large scale disaster happens and hundreds of people are affected as with the recent eastern Kentucky tornado outbreak, it's easy for us to get overwhelmed and feel like one person can't make a difference.  However, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero rolled up her sleeves and did make a difference to a Salyersville family.  Pikeville resident Robin Webb knew many families had lost everything, and it got her thinking.  "I thought, wouldn't it be great if there could be immediate relief for a particular family.  Maybe something on a personal level to help them maybe get into a new home," explained Webb.  "I kind of put myself in that position, and one of the first things I would have been thinking is, where am I going to live?"

     She heard about a family in Magoffin County who had lost their home through a friend on Facebook, and Robin got to work!  She used her own Facebook page to spread the word and start raising money.  She found a mobile home for sale, and "Operation Home" was born.  "I just kind of made the page and named it 'Operation Home'.  I added people on my friends list and they added people on theirs, and that's how it came about and grew from there!"

     In just over a month's time, through the Operation Home Facebook page, Robin had raised the money she needed...and then some!  "So we were not only able to buy the mobile home," she explained.  "We were able to also fill it with things to give the family some type of normalcy."

     And, just last week, thanks to some mobile home movers who donated their services, the Magoffin County family who lost everything to the deadly tornado received their new home, thanks to Robin, Operation Home and the power of social media!  So, the next time you feel like you can't make a difference, remember this story...and these words from Robin Webb, "It's not that hard for a small group of people to make a really big difference in a short amount of time!"

     Congratulations, Robin Webb, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero!