Klear and other friends of the family immediately rallied around the couple, saying the children were not abused, malnourished or neglected but the family had fallen on hard times. Officials initially said the kids were living in a box but then corrected that to say they were found in a shelter made of plywood. 28 on suspicion of child abuse after San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies reported finding the children living in substandard conditions on a trash-strewn lot Panico owns in the 7000 block of Sunfair Road. More: New technology could help Riverside County track, assess the needs of its homeless population More: Children had one of 'worst cases' of living conditions, police say More: Joshua Tree couple living in makeshift shelter with kids released from custody We are so grateful,” said Kirk, standing in the garage with her husband, taking in all that was happening around them. Money left over after the house is purchased will go toward utilities and property taxes, Custodio said. The group is hopeful donations will continue coming in and the $100,000 goal is reached. The goal is to have the house move-in ready before the Kirk and Panico return to court on Tuesday for a hearing regarding custody of their children. Around her, there was a flurry of work being done - one person swept, while another worked to pull up the carpeting. “We want to show (Child Protective Services) that the family has an actual home to go to,” she said, as she stood in the living room. On Friday, the owner of a long-vacant two-bedroom home – a friend of Klear's – agreed to sell the home for $38,000, said Marsha Custodio, also a friend of Kirk and Panico. Klear, who has known the family for 10 years, hoped to use the money to buy the Kirk-Panico family a house. In seven days, $50,000 – half of the $100,000 goal – has been raised via donations made through that GoFundMe page Klear of Yucca Valley set up. “I’m in shock” over the significant response, said Jackie Klear, who a week ago started a account to raise money for Daniel Panico, 73, and Mona Kirk, 51, and their three children. SIGN UP FOR FACEBOOK NEWS ALERTS: Message us here to get started On Saturday, dozens of people – many who had never met the family – grabbed brooms, shovels, rakes, tree trimmers, sponges, mops and paint brushes and began cleaning the long-vacant house to make it ready for the family to move in. Friends of a family separated after police found them living in squalid conditions on their property in a remote part of Joshua Tree have raised enough money in one week to buy the family a home.
0 kommentar(er)
