“Anna’s Story:” Community bands together to help stranger in need

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

“Anna’s Story” started with a series of Facebook posts late last year: “So, I got a call this week that a girl has been left destitute with 4 children under 6! She has managed to get a small place but has NOTHING to put in the house.”

Just two minutes after that Jan. 30 post, responses started rolling in: “Please let me know what she may still need,” “I have several sets of twin sheets, a bunch of children's books I would gladly donate,” “What ages are [the] kids? [Do] they need toys, clothes...?”

An organizer of the effort, Shelly Callahan of Pro Movers Plus in Marble Falls, thanked friends on Facebook for their “unbelievable” response: “The smile on her face was just priceless! I love my friends and the community...so much! Thank you to everyone who has donated and to all that is still coming in!”

After a New Year’s Eve update post, it took three minutes for more offers of help to appear on her computer screen.

“We’ve seen people be generous before, but this was out of the ordinary,” she said Feb. 4. “It was just insane. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

She and her husband, Cory, learned about Anna’s situation through their church, Hill Country Fellowship in Burnet.

As Anna was walking to Hope’s Closet in Burnet, a church member stopped to give her a ride.

“Ever since I’ve met her she’s been helpful,” Anna said.

Anna asked the woman for help finding twin beds for her children. The Callahans, members of the church, were contacted because of their community connections and because people who are moving sometimes shed excess possessions.

“We have a big social network with other businesses and people from the community, and after that Facebook post people we don’t even know started giving stuff,” Cory said. “Awesome stuff,” Shelly clarified.

Once the post ended up on the Hill Country Swap Facebook page “people came out of the woodwork,” Cory said. 

For the rest of Anna's Story, see Tuesday's Highlander.