Meet the Extreme Build Family

April 11, 2007

The Garland Family
Left to Right: Ricky, Bradley, Skye, Richard, Matthew, Courtney

“I want you to know that I have so much admiration for you,” said Becky, a family resource worker, to Richard Garland. “There aren’t a lot of men who would do what you’re doing.”

Becky works for the McCreary County Schools and has known the Garland family for several years. In 2003, when Richard’s estranged wife died, he took on the responsibility of raising their six children as a single father.

With genuine humility, Richard fought back tears as he responded to the praise, “It was the right thing to do.”

Richard’s family has been selected to receive the “Extreme Build” house in 2007. This will be the second Extreme Build, a project of the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship’s “Mountain Hope” initiative in partnership with the McCreary County Community Housing Development Corporation.

For six years, Richard has worked full-time at the Kentucky Fried Chicken in Whitley City. He and his five youngest children live in a two-bedroom apartment. “This is all my dad can afford with five kids. . .working at KFC,” acknowledges Courtney, age 14. “He’s doing a good job, but we need a bigger house.”

In July, Richard and a host of volunteers will make the dream of having a larger home come true. If you would like to be a part of this exciting project in Whitley City, reserve the week of July 15-21, and watch for more details.