MORGANTOWN — When Jennifer Rebar was in need of hope and help, an unexpected friend was there to help — her real estate agent.
“It was just her being her,” Rebar said. “I think that’s what made it even more special.”
Last fall, Rebar’s fiancé unexpectedly passed away after facing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from serving in the U.S. Army for 12 years. Prior to this, Rebar and her fiancé had been searching for a home for themselves and their children with the guidance of Shelley Johns, a Morgantown real estate agent and president of REAL Hope.
“We were going through a lot,” Rebar said. “Of course, the loss of income we had when he had passed away and just dealing with funeral arrangements and kind of all that terrible, awful stuff you don’t want to think about after someone passes.”
After seeing the hardships Rebar and her family were going through, Johns wanted to help in any way she could. That’s when Johns, Genesy Peguero, Rupa Hulet, Jay Rollo and Schyler Nichols created the nonprofit Real Estate Agents Living in Hope, or REAL Hope.
“We’re not all real estate agents,” Johns said. “We started just because we all want to give back to our community.”
Through fundraising, the newly formed nonprofit assisted Rebar with unforeseen expenses and closing costs on her new home. To help make the home feel more like her own, REAL Hope also covered the costs to install new flooring. The kindness of the nonprofit team only continued as Rebar and her children got settled.
As Christmas was approaching, the REAL Hope team decided to surprise Rebar and her children with presents to brighten their holiday.
“[Shelley’s] such a wonderful person,” Rebar said. “Everything she does, she does from the heart.”
Giving back to the community hasn’t stopped since helping Rebar. REAL Hope is now assisting a second individual, Rick, who requested only his first name be used, and plans to host a community fundraising event at Morgantown Brewing Co. from 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 19.
Rick came into Nichols’ life unexpectedly.
Nichols serves as the vice president of REAL Hope and is also a real estate agent. While at one of her properties, Rick approached her and offered to help her move some equipment.
While he was helping her, Rick shared his story with Nichols, explaining he was an Army combat veteran. Nichols and Rick became friends, and Nichols gave him some work to do around her home.
“He helped me all summer long, which was so wonderful,” she said. “He also obviously ended up becoming a very close friend.”
Over time, Nichols learned more about Rick’s financial and housing situation. She said Rick has been struggling to receive benefits owed to him as a veteran, leaving him unable to afford many of his bills. He also has several disabilities, including degenerative bone disease in his neck from a past injury which prevents him from doing certain jobs.
The more of Rick’s story she heard, the more she realized REAL Hope could help him in the same way they helped Rebar.
“It took me a minute to realize that, well, we needed to come together as REAL Hope and help Rick, because I was just helping him personally,” Nichols said. “Then whenever it got more in a dire situation, I was like we need to make them our next family.”
All in the community are welcome to join the upcoming fundraising event at Morgantown Brewing Co. Those interested in donating to REAL Hope can also do so by visiting their website at www.realhopewv.com or via PayPal. More information on REAL Hope can also be found on its Facebook page at REALHopeWV.
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