Generous Stranger Donates House To Family Homeless After Fire
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – In a house, along Wykes Street in Aliquippa, you can find hope if you look hard enough.
In the burnt out wood framing of what's left of the second floor, there is a 100-year-old bible, untouched by the inferno that ripped through it a little more than a week ago.
"I looked up in the burn where my bedroom was," said Lori Rippy, "and there's my grandfather's bible."
The house, given to Rippy and Vaughan Luton by his grandmother is gone.
They have no insurance and little savings. They were staying in a motel room donated by the Red Cross, but their stay has ended.
"We're homeless," Luton said. "All we have is each other, so just continue to be strong and believe God will provide for us."
Their answer may be right in a house in McKees Rocks.
KDKA's Marty Griffin put the word out and found a man, who wants to remain anonymous, who could give them a house.
The house needs some work – plumbing and painting.
However, it's valued at nearly $30,000 and the man says he'll give it to Rippy and Luton.
"I have a great job," he said. "I have a great company. I have good people all around me. This is easy."
Griffin says he's the lucky one, being able to tell the couple that they, and their four children, will have a house again.
"Are you serious?" Luton asked.
"That's wonderful," Rippy said. "I'm speechless about this."
"It's all happened so fast," Luton added. "Four you to say someone is offering us a place is just unbelievable."
Because the home will take some time – and money to fix up – another property owner is offering an apartment for the family to stay on a temporary basis.
"All of these options are unbelievable," Luton said. "We can't thank you enough."
The couple will also need money to get going again, fix up the house, start up utilities, etc. Friends of the two have set up an account at giveforward.com.
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