Reaching out a helping hand

Rachel Bencheck and Robin Harland were luckier than most when they moved to Plumas Lake with their families. Shortly upon moving in they met their neighbors Steve and Kim and their two young daughters Stephanie and Shannon and felt blessed to have found a wonderful street and community to call home.

"We were so happy when we moved to Plumas Lake to find we had gained more than neighbors but friends," said Rachel Bencheck.

Like many of their new neighbors getting the house settled and starting the arduous task of landscaping barren backyards soon took center stage.

Unfortunately this wasn't possible for everyone on their street as life places more crucial pressures in front of us. This was the case for Rachel and Robin's wonderful neighbors, Steve and Kim, who instead found themselves fighting much deeper issues than which sod to lay in their yard. Instead Kim found out shortly after her family’s move that she had cancer and this now took the forefront of their focus and energy.

Steve and Kim continued to focus on their family and getting settled all the while determined to continue fighting her disease. As Kim’s battle continued on for three years, she faced a reality no mother should ever have to face, leaving her daughters and husband. As Kim continued to become sicker, her neighbors looked on with the overwhelming need to help and wanting to give Kim peace of mind.

Out of this need to help an idea arose and began to take shape.

“Kim was too sick to take their two daughters out front to play and they had never been able to put in a backyard due to Kim being diagnosed with cancer shortly after moving into their Plumas Lake home,” continued Rachel.

“Unfortunately as a result, the girls had to play inside, unless they were over at my house or Robin’s.”

From this thought these two neighbors set out to get Kim, Steve and their daughters a backyard that the girls could safely play in and remember their mother. Knowing that Plumas Lake was a community that always comes together to take care of each other, the women approached the local church, Bayside of Plumas Lake, to help in the quest for a backyard. The church’s response was a resounding yes.

“Our church is a place of action and so this was a no brainer,” said Randy Sherwood. “I had no idea how we were going to help but the human factor of this story moved me and there was no way we weren’t going to get this done.”

Steve and his family were simply overwhelmed once they heard what was happening.

“I don’t have the words for what this community has done,” said Steve. “I don’t currently attend this church but they reached out. Rachel and Robin between themselves made this happen and I am eternally grateful.”

As the wheels started to move on the project the community rallied together and donations starting pouring in not just from the church but from nearly every reach of the community.

Robin, who works for Rio Del Oro school, started fundraising for the project as well and between the money raised by the school staff and matching funds donated by the local OSH, the group was able to purchase a patio set to be part of the yard once it was finished. Church members, Barney and Paul Baty, gave tireless hours including pouring the concrete for the backyard patio, ensuring the surface was safe and would last the Steve and his girls’ years. Another community member, Jennifer Miner and her family donated shrubs for the yard.

From start to finish the yard took only a few weeks to put in with over 50 people volunteering to make sure Kim was able to see that her daughters would have a safe place to play. Kim lost her battle with cancer on April 5 very shortly after the completion of the yard, but she left this world knowing her family was loved not only by her but by their community. Before her death Kim told her girls she would always be with them when they were out in their yard.

“What these people did for my wife, children and myself was nothing short of a miracle,” stated an emotional Steve. “This shows me there are good people here and what they did for us was just unbelievable.”

“Many members of the community, not just members of the church, came together, donating their time, capital, and expertise to not only provide this wonderful family with a beautiful yard but also, to make the last days of Kim’s life happy and let this wonderful family know that they are loved by their community and not alone,” said Rachel.

“I find it to be incredible and a testament to what a truly wonderful community Plumas Lake is.”

Plumas Lake correspondent Michele Perrault can be reached at 483-3664 or you may email her at mperrault@plumaslakelife.com.