Dripping Springs family moves into new, free home

As Helen Keller said, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn.”

Hometown Missions Dripping Springs, together with the Zapata family and over 50 volunteers, made the turns necessary to see their most recent Home in a Month project to completion. The reward is the Zapata family in their new home. To celebrate this reward, Hometown Missions and the Zapatas are hosting a Welcome Home Reception and Blessing on Saturday, June 10, at 3 p.m.

“We had amazing volunteers lending a hand with the furniture move-in duties, then several stayed to help organize and set up the home’s interior. And another group of volunteers came out to finish the storage shed on their own initiative,” said Chris Kelker-Newlan, operations manager for Hometown Missions. “Even when I would worry that we wouldn’t have enough help, the Dripping Springs community showed up again and again.”

After several unforeseen obstacles involving manufacturing issues, weather and road conditions and permitting delayed the project’s plan, the Zapatas are now safe and comfortable in their new home. The family was displaced a bit longer than expected, but once the home was delivered, Hometown Missions volunteers made quick work of all the necessary construction requirements. These included a 10’xl4’ covered front porch with stairs, back door landing and stairs, roof framing, outdoor shed, custom shelving for cabinets and furnishings.

The original plan was 50 volunteers in just 10 days for a life-long Dripping Springs family to have a brand-new home in the exact place they were currently living. After months and months of planning, with volunteers and companies working together on timelines and needs, Orlando and Rachel Zapata officially moved in late last month.

Dripping Springs Hometown Missions coordinated this Home In A Month project of the removal and replacement of the Zapatas’ more than 50-yearold manufactured home with a new one purchased from Titan Factory Direct Homes at a mission valued price. With failing electrical and septic systems, and years of weathering the extreme Texas elements, their home had to be replaced in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for the family. Removal of the manufactured home started March 10, at 1200 Creek Road in Dripping Springs.

All events up to the point of the new manufactured home being delivered were handled by James Kuykendall of Sunset Construction, Titan Factory Direct Homes and Alamo Transport. These projects included removal of the old home, site preparation and a new sewer system. Once completed, the city of Dripping Springs conducted undercarriage and utility inspections, and Alamo Transport installed the skirting.

The next step was furnishing, and Hometown Missions accepted donations of gently used or new furniture into storage to be ready for move-in day along with an Amazon Wish List of items the family needed.

Hometown Missions has been able to provide safe and healthy housing for Dripping Springs neighbors since 2010. This fall, Hometown Missions will begin on the Salazar Home in a Month. To get involved or learn more, visit hometownmissions. org.