Woman born and raised in Topeka home needs help to stay there
1:19 p.m. Monday, March 17, 2008
Bobbie Fowler, a participant in Oprah's Big Give: Topeka, is overwhelmed to know that there are people who are willing to breathe new life into her old house.
"I've never seen anything like this before in my life. I can't even tell you what I feel," she said.
She's lived here almost her whole life.
"I came here when I when I was two weeks old. So, we were just talking about how grandpa and I planted this tree. So, it's full of memories, good memories,"
Just by looking at the outside it may not seem the house needs much work, but looks can be deceiving.
She and her two dogs and several cats moved downstairs after her gas was shut off temporarily because she couldn't pay her bills. The hot water heater went out and then the oven.
"I was using it for heat, and I knew better than that. So, I blew the oven," she said.
Now with the help of Oprah's Big Give: Topeka, we can help Bobbie get back on her feet.
But it's not enough. It will take the help of volunteers and additional resources to bring this 97-year-old house back to its former glory.
"I think we have to address the issue of her basic needs, to be safe and be warm and to have running water," Keep America Beautiful Executive Director Philicia McKee.
McKee has 80 volunteers raring to go. Volunteers from Westar and Keep America Beautiful will be doing the work. And, the work will be completed in a month.
"They are giving back to the community. They are giving of themselves and sharing their most precious resource which is our free time," she said.
And the goal is to keep Bobbie in the house where she grew up, where her great grandmother, and her grandmother died and where she will live until it is her time to go.
"Oh yeah, I am going out feet first. I told my daughter that and she doesn't believe me. I am going out the door on a gurney," she said.
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