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Wanda* grew up in Asheville and attended Enka High School as a teenager. But when she became pregnant at age 17, all her plans changed. She had to leave school, instead working for a local grocery store to make ends meet. With the arrival of her second daughter soon after, Wanda had to give up on all her dreams of an education and focus her energy on providing for her young family.

 

Thankfully, Wanda soon found a helpmeet in Eric, a man from Black Mountain. The two fell in love and married, starting a cleaning business in Eric's hometown. Wanda kept it going for twenty-five years.

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Unfortunately, a car accident in 2010 severely affected her mobility. Now seventy years old, her injuries make it a struggle to navigate her home. Her damaged leg keeps her attached to her walker. Eric, too, is disabled—he suffers from a serious lung condition. Together, the couple relies on food stamps and social security checks for their living.

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When their roof sprung a leak—directly over the toilet, no less—Wanda and Eric had no leftover resources to address the problem. Still, Wanda kept her spirits up. "I was the only person in Black Mountain who could take a shower while I was using the bathroom!"  she said. Nevertheless, the problem was real, and Hammer & Heart was glad to step in.

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