Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Volunteers renovate woman’s home just in time for Christmas
POMPANO BEACH — Dick Spalding knew his neighbor of more than 40 years in Pompano Beach had troubles. Holes in her roof went untended for decades. The electricity and water often went out. Often, she wouldn’t eat unless he fed her or bought her groceries.
But when 87-year-old Gloria Mugford slipped and fell last month after record rainfall streamed through her roof and flooded her home, Spalding learned the true extent of how hard the woman had been living.
Mold covered the walls. Furniture was drenched. Garbage bins were set up around the home to catch what water they could.
While Mugford recovered from a broken shoulder in the hospital, Spalding called Rob Kornahrens, CEO of Advanced Roofing in Fort Lauderdale, to see about getting his neighbor a tarp.
But Mugford got much more.
Before long, a coalition of South Florida business owners and nonprofits were pitching in full time to completely transform Mugford’s home in the span of six weeks.
Kornahrens said he didn’t make a conscious decision to give Mugford what is perhaps the best Christmas present she’s ever gotten. It just kind of happened. But during a year that turned the world upside down, he is happy to play a part in it.
“It does make for a good Christmas story,” he said.
Mugford did not want to speak to reporters Wednesday, but Spalding described her reaction when she returned home Saturday: “She kept saying ‘I have to pinch myself, I have to pinch myself.’” And she cried as she expressed her gratitude
to Kornahrens.
Kornahrens said he felt moved to do something after hearing about how the lonely Mugford had lived for so long. “It just kind of tore on me.”
After seeing the decrepit
home with his own eyes, he knew he couldn’t let Mugford live there. “I just picked up the phone and started calling people.”
Soon, a new roof was installed. Plumbing was replaced. Mold was cleared off the walls.
The pool, which hadn’t been tended to in 20 years, was drained and cleaned.
City Furniture donated a new bed, sofa and other furniture.
In total, Kornahrens estimates that over $100,000 was poured into the home. All of the work was done for free, without much arm-twisting.
“People kept pitching in,” he said. “It’s just truly amazing what we’ve done in six weeks.”
While the work continued, Lamar Fisher — Broward County commissioner and former mayor of Pompano Beach — arranged for Mugford to stay at a hotel in the city.
Sonrise Mission, a Christian rehab center, provided her with food.
Spalding had been trying to persuade Mugford to sell the place for years. Take the money and put herself in a condo or somewhere cleaner.
But he always refused, feeling attached to the home she had moved to with her mother more than 40 years ago. The home in which she took care of her mother before she died.
“He’s made it possible for Gloria to come home and live the rest of her life in this house.”
Spalding said the real gift will come the next time it rains in Pompano Beach and Mugford can rest soundly.
“You’re going to see an 87-year-old girl with a smile from ear to ear,” he said.