Sharing this article written for the CoServ Charitable Foundation webpage: https://www.coserv.com/hearts-for-homes-builds-home-pilot-point
By NICHOLAS SAKELARIS | June 11, 2024
Mickey and Lupe Hessel’s home has always been the center of family gatherings. Over the years, crowds would spill out of their tiny, two-bedroom house into the yard, especially for Easter, when they would host up to 150 people.
But the pier-and-beam house in Pilot Point started sinking as the floor rotted, forcing the family to cancel gatherings in recent years.
Mickey, a Vietnam War veteran, and Lupe explored options through various nonprofits to try to help their failing home of three-plus decades. Hearts for Homes, a Denton County nonprofit that helps seniors with home improvement projects, looked at several options, including trying to salvage the floor, which had dropped by six inches in the kitchen. They explored possibly moving a new house to the site, but none of those were feasible.
With all options exhausted, Hearts for Homes took on its biggest project yet –tearing down the old house and building a new one from the ground up.
On May 17, the Hessels were officially handed the keys to their new three-bedroom, two-bath house in downtown Pilot Point, built in the same spot as their old house.
“It was a surprise. It was just amazing. I cried the whole time. Never in our lives did we imagine something this beautiful,” Lupe said. “It’s like living in a mansion.”
They picked out the flooring and paint, among other things. Lupe said she loves to sew and with the new house she dedicated a room to her projects.
Now they’re already envisioning their first family barbecue this summer with their two adult daughters, their husbands and six grandchildren.
“It’s such a blessing,” she said. “It’s amazing. We’re still in shock.”
Hearts for Homes relies on donated materials and grants to make these dreams come true.
“We were privileged to be able to bless them in this way,” said Susan Frank, Executive Director of Hearts for Homes. “This is truly priceless.”
The CoServ Charitable Foundation is a longtime partner of Hearts for Homes and contributed a $40,000 grant last year, of which $10,000 went toward the Hessel’s home.
The Operation Roundup grant was funded by CoServ Members and Customers who round their bills to the nearest dollar. The pennies per month – about $6 per year per account – add up to more than $1 million a year that is distributed to nonprofits in our service area.
“The CoServ Charitable Foundation has proudly partnered with Hearts for Homes since 2008 but this latest project is particularly special,” said Jennifer Ebert, CCF Coordinator. “We are honored to have played a role in providing this wonderful family with a new house where they can live comfortably and create lasting memories.”
