LAVACA (KFSM) -- A couple who lost nearly everything in the recent flood are now overwhelmed by the amount of people reaching out to help them.
James Kaelin and his wife, Marta, said that because James is a veteran, many other veterans in the River Valley have reached out to them. They said some have even come to the their land and helped take care of their animals.
“It’s hard to ask for help,” Kaelin said. “I’ve always been a man that took care of myself.”
The Kaelins said after losing their home and car in the flood they didn’t think life would ever go back to normal, but now things are looking up.
“People have called all over Arkansas and even some folks in Oklahoma offered to help,” Kaelin said.
One of those people is Cash Chisum, the merchandising manager at Home Depot in Fort Smith.
“I am overwhelmed,” Chisum said. “I can’t imagine the depth of what has happened here. It’s not really livable. I’m not really sure how they’ve managed to be out here and function.”
Chisum said a team of Home Depot employees want to help the Kaelins get back on their feet.”
“We really want to try to help them get to a safe place to sleep and help them where they’re able to take care of their animals like they’re used to,” Chisum said.
The Kaelins bought a mobile home, but they still need to finish the foundation to put it on, and they can’t do that until the ground dries out, and all of that needs to be done in 15 days.
“We signed the papers, and we’ve got to have it on our property or financing goes away,” Kaelin said.
Once the mobile home is there, Chishum said they will help install all the plumbing, but for now he and his crew will help them start cleaning up.
“Then we’ll try to organize and try to make sure that we have folks out here as we can and just start that process of filling dumpsters and getting it out of here and start getting it cleaned up,” Chisum said.
The Kaelins said they’ve never experienced such kindess.
“These people are complete strangers to us and for us to know that, it’s a good feeling to have,” Kaelin said.
The Home Depot crew will be helping clean up the property Saturday (Jan. 9).
Also on Saturday, (Jan. 9) an organization called Cowgirls and Cowboys for Christ are hosting a barrel race fundraiser benefitting the Kaelins. It will start at 10 at Arena 64 on Highway 64 in Clarksville.