Well-wishers Raise $30,000 for Widowed Mother’s Mortgage

Catherine Wachira, aka Mama Bob, (red) hands over donation checks to Amos Wang'ombe as friends and family of Mary Karugia, a mother of three who lost her husband recently due to illness look on at the event event held in Braintree, MA .The funds went towards the family's mortgage expenses.

Braintree, MA
07/18/2008

A small group of Kenyans came together over the weekend to help a widowed mother of three pay her mortgage. They raised $25,000 cash on the spot and $10,000 in pledged donations to make a total sum of $35,000. The fund raising event, organized by close family members and friends, took place on July 13th, 2008, at the Hosanna Gospel Center, located in the Knights of Columbus Hall on Washington Street in Braintree, Massachusetts, USA.

Mrs. Mary Karugia, is a widowed mother of three who recently lost her husband after a hard fought battle with colon cancer. (News, blogs).  Due to her husband’s illness, Mrs. Karugia was rendered jobless and had to stay home to take care of the sick husband and three young children. At the same time, the youngest child was struggling to recover from incisive arm surgery which was carried out to repair damaged nerves.  

Relatives and well-wishers flew in from as far away as Silver Springs in Maryland state and Seattle in Washington state. There was utter surprise followed by jubilation when the MC announced the hefty amount of money raised to the several dozen people present.  

‘You cannot fail to feel proud to be a Kenyan today,” said Mrs.Mercy Wang’ombe, while announcing the final figure at the end of the ceremony. “You can tell those people who came here and left earlier for work that we have all done an amazing work of raising about $ 30,000 towards Mary Karugia’s mortgage fund,” she added.

When the late husband was diagnosed with cancer, the Kenyan community generously raised $25,000 to cater for hospital bills. After the funeral, another $30,000 was raised to cover funeral and family living expenses. The current cash contribution brings the total raised in a short span of one year to a handsome $85,000.

Friends and family at the Hosanna Gospel Center in Braintree watch as people continue to give towards alleviating the windowed mother's ( R with a baby) mortgage problems

A lady sinks some cash into the donation basket during the fundraising for a bereaved family's mortgage in Braintree, MA as others look on.

This generosity was attributed to the family’s faith in God, the relentless assistance of the family’s pastor,  Rev. Karen C. Rydwansky of the Assemblies of God, in Brockton,  and the fierce dedication of the Kenyan immigrant community in Massachusetts to help a brother’s family in the hour of need.

“Mary has seen the hand of God throughout this struggle”, said Catherine Wachira, popularly known as ‘Mama Bob’, while moving a vote of thanks to the community. “Many thanks to Pastor Karen, Kenyan pastors who helped in various ways, friends, relatives and everyone who chipped in whatever they could. May God bless you mightily,” she prayed.

As the event came to a close, a concerned Kenyan lady confided to AjabuAfrica.com that it was amazing how many times the Kenyan community had been called upon to raise money for a deceased person’s family.

“Why is it that many Kenyans in this country do not have life insurance coverage to protect families against unavoidable events?” the puzzled lady posed to a crew member of AjabuAfrica.com. “I know most of you guys at Ajabu are licensed life insurance and investment agents. What are you doing about this?” the lady challenged. “All this money being raised could be put into a fund which can help generations of Kenyans in this country, like a scholarship fund or something,” said the lady who did not wish to be identified.

Clerks keenly counting the donations as they flowed in

A cross section of well wishers who attended the fund raising to help a struggling family meet their mortgage needs

“Life insurance is cheaper than getting your hair done or a 12 pack of beer that most people buy every week. Yet it provides enough money to take care of a family should something unfortunate happen,” added the concerned young lady.

In response, AjabuAfrica.com crew promised to start a financial awareness campaign targeting the East African community in Massachusetts. It is important for everyone to understand the importance of retirement planning, college funds for children and affordable life insurance.  

In the meantime, if you choose to review the adequacy of your existing insurance policy or get information about life insurance coverage for your family, please contact AjabuAfrica.com at  SmartMove@ajabuafrica.com  or call us at 781-787- 2076 (Office) and 781-953-2490 (Cell-phone).

  The target for the fund raising was to raise $200,000, so there is more well wishers are welcomed to make their donations from anywhere aroud the world.

Watch this space for the Bank Information where donations can be deposited.

Story by Harrison Maina
Edited for AjabuAfrica.com by George Chege