We remember all too clearly the hardships our community recently experienced with the February deep freeze.  Thankfully, most of us were fortunate to come out relatively unscathed.  However, the Georgetown Beard Club recently learned of a family right in our backyard who was not so lucky.

There is a local couple, Bill and Lillian Black, who have spent their lives helping others in need.  Over the years the couple, who are in their late 70s and have health issues of their own, have adopted eight children with disabilities.  Three of their adopted sons, who are now in their 30s, still live with them and one is wheelchair-bound.

The last several years have really taken their toll on them.  They had consecutive years of taking in, and caring for, both of their moms in their final years.  Then Lillian had a heart attack and is now unable to do as much anymore.  Bill, too, has been struggling with health issues, and so the ability to fix the ever-growing problems in their home has all but gone.

The February winter storm froze and busted the pipes in their home.  Though they have a well that provides them access to clean water, they have been without running water in their home since the storm.

To make things worse, they have also been living with a hole in their roof which has meant that one of their sons could no longer sleep in his room.  Additionally, several leaks have caused extensive water damage to the interior of their home in many places, and most of the plumbing fixtures are non-functioning.

With retirement and the rising cost of care for their adopted children, they have been unable to afford to the repairs needed for their aging home.

This is a family that has spent their lives helping others and is not the kind to ask for help themselves.  Rather than wait for them to ask, we sought help on their behalf because Georgetown takes care of its own.  Initially, our goal was simply to repair the busted pipes, fix the roof, and trim the trees so that they could have indoor plumbing and use their fireplace once again.

However, upon closer inspection, the project is continually expanding as the family will need much more help and support from the community. Our new goal is to refurbish their home to make it livable again.  In addition to repairng the roof and plumbing, the home will also need new siding, new window, and all new drywall.  We will also need to provide them with temporary housing while we work to repair the extensive water damage to their home.

If you would like to donate funds to help this family out, you can do so via Venmo by sending donations to @Georgetown-Beard-Club.  You can also donate directly through our website by clicking on the “Lend a Hand” button below.  Finally, you can mail a check to:  Georgetown Beard Club. P.O. Box 2772, Georgetown, TX 78627 Attn:  Lend a Hand.  We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and your donation may be tax-deductible.

If you or your company would like to donate time or materials, please contact any of the following people:

Michael Price: michael@georgetownbeardclub.com

Rob Kiddie at rob@georgetownbeardclub.com

Chris or Emily Hamilton: valorandlace@gmail.com