Where are they now: 'I now believe in hope': Volunteers rebuild home of veteran in Beaufort
ABOUT THIS SERIES
This week, The Island Packet is updating readers on the most interesting people -- and animals -- introduced during the past year.
In our fourth installment, we check in on a veteran whose life changed forever last summer when a large tree demolished his home.
When we introduced: July 7, 2015
Where we left: An oak tree crashed through the Beaufort house of veteran Raymond Paige on July 3, leaving him homeless and feeling hopeless about ever returning to his home of 27 years.
What's changed: A groundswell of generosity poured forth to help Paige -- who is no longer homeless.
Raymond Paige's life took a bleak turn July 3 when a tree crashed through his Beaufort house in the middle of the night.
Seeing his home split in half by a massive 150-year-old oak, the Army veteran felt all hope drain out of him.
A lung cancer survivor, disability payments were his only income.
He had no insurance. He had no savings.
He no longer had a home.
The American Red Cross put him up at a nearby hotel after the incident, but the agency offers only limited financial assistance.
He didn't know what to do. But the community did.
Neighbors, strangers, volunteers and businesses came to the rescue. Some gave money, paying for the 48 nights he ended up staying in the hotel. Some donated building supplies and furniture. And others volunteered their time, rebuilding his home of 27 years on Southside Boulevard.
"These people brought life back to something I didn't think could be brought back," said Paige, 60, this month while holding his little dog Trouble outside his newly restored house. "I have my home back now."
In all, the community pitched in about $20,000 worth of work and supplies.
A neighbor, Chris Woods, got the help started the day after the storm. Woods' employer, Lather Construction, lifted the tree from the home at no cost.
Then came Jim Inlow, a retired construction manager, who led the rehabilitation work and fundraising.
"It was a lot of work," Inlow said. But with that work came the reward of helping someone in need and seeing the generous outpouring.
"The community really stepped up," he said, "and most wanted to stay anonymous."
The house had gaping holes on its side and roof, with extensive damage to the living room, dining room and kitchen. Inlow and other volunteers worked in the hot summer sun to replace the roof and perform other construction work.
Inlow fell ill before the project was completed, so Beaufort Design Build LLC took over and did much of the interior rehab, he said.
After four months, the 63-year-old home was restored as good as new. There are just a few minor details to take care of and some exterior painting, which should be completed soon.
Paige is still stunned by all the help he's received.
"I am so grateful and so thankful to everyone that has done anything to get me back up and running," he said.
"I now believe in hope."
Follow city editor Don McLoud at twitter.com/IPBG_Don.
Related content:
- Massive tree splits Beaufort house leaving owner homeless, July 7, 2015
- Community rallies to help Beaufort veteran whose home was crushed by tree, July 8, 2015
This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 8:27 PM with the headline "Where are they now: 'I now believe in hope': Volunteers rebuild home of veteran in Beaufort."