Powegians help veteran and family

When the Ford family bought their new home in Poway, they never expected the outpouring of welcoming and generosity they’d receive.

Derrick and Michelle Ford, along with their 5-year-old twins Dennis and Trinity, recently moved to Poway from a two-bedroom apartment in Chula Vista.

“We just bought the house, we closed on Jan. 13,” said Michelle Ford.

Derrick Ford is a veteran. On Aug. 14, 2009, he was serving in Afghanistan as a sergeant in the Army in a Striker brigade when they hit an IED. The injury from the blast resulted in the amputation of his left leg.

Less than a month later, their twins were born.

Ford said that they chose to move to Poway in a big part because of the great reputation the schools had. “We’d been told by so many people that Poway has one of the best school systems,” she said. “It’s one of the big reasons that we moved here.”

Ford said her family is also enjoying Poway’s small-town feel. “I’m from a small town where neighbors help neighbors,” she said. “That’s how I feel it is here.”

She credits their Realtor, Jack Campbell, with contacting the volunteers who would help them with their home. “Jack Campbell orchestrated this entire endeavor,” Ford said.

Campbell contacted former Poway resident and former Poway City Council member Merrilee Boyack, who contacted Mayor Steve Vaus, said Paul Kassel, one of the volunteers who is working with the Fords. From there, Vaus sent out several emails, asking for volunteers to help the Fords with their home.

A number of Powegians have stepped up to help the Fords, including members of the Poway Elks Club and the Poway Veterans Organization.

Even Vaus and Councilmember Dave Grosch pitched in, helping the family to unload boxes on their moving day. Councilmember John Mullin also stopped by to meet the family and help for the Fords. Kassel and his company also donated $1000 for miniblinds and installed them, and are working on remodeling the home’s bathroom to make it more user-friendly for Derrick.

Rasmussen and Bill McGiben from the Poway Veterans Organization worked on the home’s fence, and a number of other volunteers and Poway businesses have donated gift cards to the family, including Kassel, Campbell and the Poway Sushi Lounge.

“The Poway Elks and the Poway Veterans Organization really took a major role helping the family,” said Kassel.

At the City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Vaus said that he had been contacted by a family from Northern California who wished to remain anonymous, who had volunteered to pay for remodels for the family. Vaus said that the family told him that if there’s anything the family needs — bathroom remodeled, dishwasher installed — do it and send us the bill.

“They’ve made my husband comfortable in his own home,” said Ford of the volunteers. “It’s been very emotional. My main concern has been my husband being comfortable, and our kids having a home to grow up in. This has been overwhelming, we weren’t expecting it.”

Kassel said that the volunteers weren’t finished and would keep working with the family.

“We feel more than welcomed to Poway,” said Ford. “I love it. It’s beyond my wildest dreams. We’re overwhelmed, but a nice overwhelmed. We weren’t expecting that kind of outreach. We made the right decision moving here.”