CENTRAL CITY, Ky. — More than five months after a deadly tornado hit western Kentucky, one organization is continuing to give back.
A Kentucky widow who lost her home and husband to the tornado received the keys to her new house she will call home for years to come.
The Dec. 10, 2021 storms left many with homes completely demolished, but on Friday, Autumn’s prayers were answered after receiving the keys to her new home.
“It’s just somewhere we can feel safe, somewhere I can raise my children, somewhere that we can be together and make new memories,” explains the Bremen, Kentucky native
Autumn didn’t just lose her home, but lost her husband Jon in the storm, too.
The now single mother of two’s new home in Central City will host years of memories just waiting to happen because of God’s Pit Crew, a faith based nonprofit organization from Virginia.
“It’s definitely bittersweet to know that I was walking through the door of a new home that’s for me and my children but having to walk through it without my husband is a little hard, but its exciting,” explains Autumn.
About 75 volunteers built their newly furnished home in just 18 days.
Overwhelmed with emotions, walking through for the first time, Autumn was at a loss for all words but two: thank you.
“I know that’s something that he loved and he does love is to know that we are being taken care of and that someone did this for us,” adds Autumn.
Built by prayer, Randy Johnson, founder and president of God’s Pit Crew, says it’s a labor of nothing but love from everyone involved.
“We want to restore hope. I mean, it’s as simple as that. We just want to be a light and make a difference in the world that we live in,” explains Johnson.
The 59-year-old father of five says it marks another step in the recovery in Western Kentucky as another God’s Pit Crew house goes up.
“We make these commitments by faith without having the funds to do them and some may say, ‘Well, that’s crazy.’ It’s 52 times now we’ve made those faith commitments,” said Johnson.
Although Johnson knows the nonprofit can’t make the family whole again, Johnson says they are here to try.
“We told Autumn after our first interview we can’t give you back everything you’ve lost obviously, but hopefully we can give you a hope for a new start for the future,” adds Johnson.
Leaning on her faith, she’s reflecting on cherished moments and finds strength to move forward.
“You definitely don’t take anything for granted. You enjoy every moment that you can with your family because you don’t know when you’re going to lose them,” explains Autumn.
God’s Pit Crew is planning to return to Dawson Springs and Marshall County in August to build two homes for other families impacted by the December tornadoes.