A Community That Cares: Rita’s Story
When the Unexpected Happens
At the Van Purser Foundation, we often say hardship doesn’t usually show up on a schedule. It tends to arrive suddenly, and when it does, it can turn life upside down in a matter of hours.
Rita Anderson’s story is a clear example of that.
Rita experienced a major and very unexpected home failure when the polybutylene pipes in her house burst.
When that happened, water spread quickly through her home, damaging her kitchen, bathroom, and living room. What started as a sudden plumbing failure turned into a full-scale restoration project with extensive repairs.
While Rita did have homeowner’s insurance, she was still left with a significant out-of-pocket responsibility because of her high deductible. That added a tough financial layer on top of an already overwhelming situation.
A Caring Community
What stood out in Rita’s situation was the way her community showed up. Caring friends reached out to the Van Purser Foundation on her behalf, and multiple people were advocating for her. From there, our team was able to quickly step in, review her situation, and provide assistance to help cover a portion of the deductible gap. This allowed the repairs to move forward and brought much-needed stability during a really difficult season.
In addition, a former Whitetail cyclist generously gave his time to help with the repairs. He went out of his way to improve Rita’s bathroom, helping reduce costs while doing more than was expected, a generous act of service that made a real difference in the process.
It’s Why We Exist
Rita has shared just how grateful she is for the support she received. It was completely unexpected, but it left her feeling genuinely cared for by her community and brought real relief and encouragement during a challenging time.
Stories like Rita’s remind us why this matters. Every situation is different, but the heart behind it stays the same: showing up when people are facing something they didn’t see coming.
Because of the generosity of our community, we’re able to do just that—offer not only financial help, but relief, dignity, and hope when it’s needed most.