After surviving a car accident in which she was injured, 53-year-old Diane Robinson faced the dilemma of being unable to go back to work as a certified nursing assistant because of her injuries.

To make matters worse, after the accident she fell and broke her shoulder.

Robinson eventually decided to apply for disability. She lived in a double wide trailer on property where her old family home still stood. Because she couldn’t work, she could no longer afford the payments on the trailer.

“You do the best you can. What else can you do,” she said.

Several years ago, Sister Julie Guillot, director of Eastern Shore Affordable Houses, had found a donated house to give to Robinson. But Robinson couldn’t afford the moving fee at that time. However, when she found out her trailer was on the verge of being repossessed, she turned to Guillot, who is known as “Sister Julie” throughout the Eastern Shore, for help.

Due to the severe damages caused by previous hurricanes and much needed repairs, the old family home was unlivable.

Guillot contacted The Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church and the Daphne United Methodist Church to see if they could offer assistance. Both churches started working on Robinson’s house in June.

Because of water damage from leaks in the roof in the old family home, ceilings were caving in and the floors were so fragile that they were unsafe.

The first priority was getting the house reroofed and the floors replaced. The plumbing was totally unusable and termite infestation had to be treated.

Robinson had a few of her own appliances but most appliances were donated.

Guillot also sought help with Christ the King School in Daphne to see if the school’s yearly fund-raiser could pay for reroofing of Robinson’s house.

Last week two fourth grade boys put up a lemonade stand and raised $44 for the fund.

Throughout September, kindergartners through the eighth grade collected donations and held other fund-raisers for the project.

“I love her. She is a God-sent person,” Robinson said about Guillot’s help.

Four months after starting repairs the house is now livable. Robinson is currently moving in and is excited about taking care of her new house.

She has already carefully placed her black and white cow figurines on the new kitchen countertops and window sills.

Robinson was shocked last week when Guillot told her she had another surprise for her. Robinson bowed her head and cried when she learned the students at Christ the King School had offered to paint the exterior of her house.

When asked to pick a house color, Robinson, without a moment’s hesitation she chose dark green — the same color the house was painted when she was a child.

She said her parents, who are both deceased, are probably smiling right now because Robinson is now back in the family home.

Guillot said Affordable Houses has helped hundreds of people over the last 10 years.

She said there is always a need for volunteers, with no age limit, and donations.

In October there will be a house blessing by Jim Fillingim, pastor of Daphne United Methodist.

“Without the volunteers, it wouldn’t have happened,” Robinson said.

For more information about Affordable Housing call 928-4386.