Community Celebrates New Rooms For Mora Children
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
An open house was held Saturday at the Bowdlers' Autumn Hills Addition residence in Winona Lake to celebrate basement renovations that were completed to their home.[[In-content Ad]]The Bowdlers are the parents of Lisa Heather Mora, who reportedly was shot and killed May 23 by her husband, Omar, at the Mora's residence on Vicky Lane in The Country subdivision east of Warsaw. Omar Mora remains at large.
The Moras left behind two children, Jovan, 7, and Adrian, 2, who are in the Bowdlers' custody.
More than 100 volunteers, including business owners and Kosciusko County residents, have been working since July to renovate the Bowdlers' basement to allow their grandchildren to have a place to play and sleep. The project was completed Friday.
Approximately 50 community members and volunteers who worked on the basement renovations attended the open house, along with the family's friends and neighbors. Grace College students donated breakfast and lunch.
Renovations included installing two carpeted bedrooms where the children will sleep, a carpeted playroom and a bathroom with a vanity, sink and shower.
The bedrooms have new beds, desks and dressers and canvases with the boys' names on them.
The furniture was sold at a discounted rate by JB's Furniture and Brouwer's Furniture.
A train set also was donated by Bob Kline's Train Shack, Warsaw, and a train mural was painted on the playroom wall.
A two-story playhouse was built in the playroom, and a chalkboard hangs on the playroom wall.
Saturday was the first time the Bowdlers and their grandchildren saw the basement renovations.
A sign was posted on the basement door during the renovations that said, "Dear Family, Please Do Not Peek, Special Things Going On, But Don't Worry."
The idea for the renovations began two months ago when Linda called Michael Kolesiak, owner of Michael Kolesiak Construction, Akron. Linda was seeking cost estimates to make renovations to the family's concrete basement to accommodate their two grandchildren who are living with them. Kolesiak said he would try to do the project free of charge and get volunteers from the community to assist in basement renovations.
Volunteers began the project July 27, including laying carpet, painting and completing electrical work in the Bowdlers' basement.
Kolesiak, his wife Shannon and three daughters took the Bowdlers and Jovan and Adrian to American Table Restaurant for breakfast and visited Bob Kline's Train Shack in Warsaw Saturday morning.
"We knew the children loved trains so we wanted to get them excited for their new playroom," Kolesiak said.
The family returned to their home in a limousine where they were greeted by community members and volunteers to see their basement renovations for the first time.
Those who attended the open house cheered and held signs that said "Mora Celebration," and balloons hung from tents outside the home.
A ceremony was held outside the home where Bowdler and Kolesiak spoke.
"Meeting the Bowdlers and their grandchildren has been a blessing, my heart goes out to them and I love them as much as my family," Kolesiak said.
Kolesiak thanked the community and churches for their support and financial contributions toward the project.
During the ceremony, Jovan, Bill and Linda read Bible verses.
"When people go through a tragedy it strengthens their relationship with Christ and encourages them to stand firm on the truth of the Lord," Linda said.
Bill said he is thankful for the community's support during the renovations.
"I am amazed at the renovations and deeply humbled by the great outpouring of love and concern from the community," Bill said.
A celebration lunch was held and tours of the basement were provided Saturday for community members.
Jovan and Adrian ran from one room to another with smiles on their faces playing with the new train set, sliding down the playhouse slide and sitting on their new beds.
An open house was held Saturday at the Bowdlers' Autumn Hills Addition residence in Winona Lake to celebrate basement renovations that were completed to their home.[[In-content Ad]]The Bowdlers are the parents of Lisa Heather Mora, who reportedly was shot and killed May 23 by her husband, Omar, at the Mora's residence on Vicky Lane in The Country subdivision east of Warsaw. Omar Mora remains at large.
The Moras left behind two children, Jovan, 7, and Adrian, 2, who are in the Bowdlers' custody.
More than 100 volunteers, including business owners and Kosciusko County residents, have been working since July to renovate the Bowdlers' basement to allow their grandchildren to have a place to play and sleep. The project was completed Friday.
Approximately 50 community members and volunteers who worked on the basement renovations attended the open house, along with the family's friends and neighbors. Grace College students donated breakfast and lunch.
Renovations included installing two carpeted bedrooms where the children will sleep, a carpeted playroom and a bathroom with a vanity, sink and shower.
The bedrooms have new beds, desks and dressers and canvases with the boys' names on them.
The furniture was sold at a discounted rate by JB's Furniture and Brouwer's Furniture.
A train set also was donated by Bob Kline's Train Shack, Warsaw, and a train mural was painted on the playroom wall.
A two-story playhouse was built in the playroom, and a chalkboard hangs on the playroom wall.
Saturday was the first time the Bowdlers and their grandchildren saw the basement renovations.
A sign was posted on the basement door during the renovations that said, "Dear Family, Please Do Not Peek, Special Things Going On, But Don't Worry."
The idea for the renovations began two months ago when Linda called Michael Kolesiak, owner of Michael Kolesiak Construction, Akron. Linda was seeking cost estimates to make renovations to the family's concrete basement to accommodate their two grandchildren who are living with them. Kolesiak said he would try to do the project free of charge and get volunteers from the community to assist in basement renovations.
Volunteers began the project July 27, including laying carpet, painting and completing electrical work in the Bowdlers' basement.
Kolesiak, his wife Shannon and three daughters took the Bowdlers and Jovan and Adrian to American Table Restaurant for breakfast and visited Bob Kline's Train Shack in Warsaw Saturday morning.
"We knew the children loved trains so we wanted to get them excited for their new playroom," Kolesiak said.
The family returned to their home in a limousine where they were greeted by community members and volunteers to see their basement renovations for the first time.
Those who attended the open house cheered and held signs that said "Mora Celebration," and balloons hung from tents outside the home.
A ceremony was held outside the home where Bowdler and Kolesiak spoke.
"Meeting the Bowdlers and their grandchildren has been a blessing, my heart goes out to them and I love them as much as my family," Kolesiak said.
Kolesiak thanked the community and churches for their support and financial contributions toward the project.
During the ceremony, Jovan, Bill and Linda read Bible verses.
"When people go through a tragedy it strengthens their relationship with Christ and encourages them to stand firm on the truth of the Lord," Linda said.
Bill said he is thankful for the community's support during the renovations.
"I am amazed at the renovations and deeply humbled by the great outpouring of love and concern from the community," Bill said.
A celebration lunch was held and tours of the basement were provided Saturday for community members.
Jovan and Adrian ran from one room to another with smiles on their faces playing with the new train set, sliding down the playhouse slide and sitting on their new beds.
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