Several Costa families partner with Homes of Hope to help foreign families in need

By London Foster
Staff Writer

Several Mira Costa families take their passion for giving back to Mexico to help build homes for families that are in great need.

This coming July, freshman Madeline Kelley, her two brothers Patrick and Ryan, her mom Kelly and her dad Garrett will head to Colonias of Tijuana along with the Sevier, Thormodsgaard and the Milewski families to help build two homes. While there they will partner with Homes of Hope, a global movement based on transforming the lives of families in poverty from the gift of a new home.

“One of the highlights for me of this trip is that our entire family can do it together,” participating mother Kelly Kelley said. “Even our youngest, can be put to work painting. I love that we will be working side by side with the family that we are building for and can experience their joy.”

Homes of Hope is an organization that has built over 5,000 houses for families in need. Homes are built and funded by the volunteers and each house takes 2-3 days to build.

“What we can accomplish in a weekend would take the average family in this region about 7 years of their annual salary to replicate,” Chrissy Miles said. “It’s virtually impossible for these families to get ahead without our help.”

As a team, participants need to raise a minimum of $16,000, which is the cost to build two houses. There are two ways to support their team, first by attending a benefit at the Comedy and Magic Club or second by donating to fund different items needed for the build.

“Everyone involved in the build has a life changing experience,” Miles said. “When we arrive and see the situation the family is surviving in, we realize that the new house is going to redirect the course of their lives, it’s very rewarding and humbling.”

Freshman Madeline Kelley has participated in other charity events through National Charity League, which work with philanthropies including the LA Food Bank, Mychals Learning Center, Heal the Bay, and Richstone Family Center. Madeline Kelley’s interest in charity work led her to join the Miles of Hope team.

“The family who is receiving the home also builds with us,” Miles said. “So we get to know them and our compassion and desire to help them grows significantly.”

The area Colonias of Tijuana is mostly made up of homemade shacks with dirt floors, no running water, and no electricity either. Every family is chosen based upon certain criteria but without discrimination. Certain factors include family size, income, current living conditions, and whether or not the family has rights to the land the house will be built upon.

“I hope that we can give back to the community and help improve people’s lives.” Costa Freshman and participant Madeline Kelley said.

When the South Bay families head to Tijuana on July 14-17 they will increase the chances of their children going to school, health risks reduce, and they move the family from the lowest level of poverty to middle class in the region.

“We hope to make a significant difference in the lives of others,” Kelley said. “We want our children to experience the true joy that comes from giving, rather than receiving.”