Marble Falls family’s one-time project now something more

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MARBLE FALLS — Lisa and Shawn Moore remember the day they walked into a person’s home with some donated items for the house and realized how rough some people have it.

“All they had for furniture were two folding chairs,” Lisa said. “And then there was a bed on the floor, and that was about it.”

“It just amazed us and made us want to keep doing this,” Shawn added.

This being Moore’s Giving More Project. The family, which includes three children, started the project last year but not with the idea it would grow into a regular endeavor.

The initial idea took root in May 2013 after a tornado devastated the town of Moore, Oklahoma. Seeing the destruction, the Moores decided to collect items for the community.

“We loaded up a passenger van full of stuff and headed up there,” Lisa said. At first, it appeared more of a one-time thing than a new family activity. But God would have other plans for the Moores.

Last year, just before Thanksgiving, one of Lisa’s friends lost her home and all her belongings in a fire. The woman, who suffered from several health problems, lost all her belongings and faced an uncertain future.

“I had to do something,” Lisa said. So she put the word out that she was collecting household items, clothing and other donations for the woman. The community responded, and the family was able to deliver much-needed goods to the woman.

“Then, we thought, ‘There must be other people who are in need,'” Lisa said.

So the family began letting people know they where going to continue collecting clothing, household items and appliances to turn around and give to others in need or victims of fires. Again, the community responded.

As donations poured in, the Moores stashed items anywhere they could at their home.

“After awhile, my shop wasn’t my shop anymore because there was so much stuff in it,” Shawn said.

The overflow filled their home.

“We just had this small path through our house with everything else piled around,” Lisa said. Admittedly, things were getting a little out of hand when it came to storing donated items. But the Moores felt God was leading them in this direction, so instead of putting a stop to the project, they just kept going, knowing God would help them along the way.

And he did.

Earlier this year, the Marble Falls Church of Christ offered the Moores a nearby unfinished home to store the items. And even with the added space, there are times it gets rather full as well. But just as quickly as the rooms fill up, the Moores hand it out.

As people began hearing about the Moore’s Giving More Project, folks began calling the facility the “Donation House.”

“Until we started doing this, I never realized how big of a need there was right here in the Marble Falls community and surrounding area,” Lisa said. “We’ve helped about 60 families in the past year with just basic donations. And last year, we helped about 15 families with Christmas.”

Shawn said one family stood out for him last Christmas.

“Before last Christmas, they had never had a Christmas tree in their house,” he said. “The kids really didn’t know what Christmas was about because they had never had decorations or gifts before.”

Thanks to the community’s donations and support, the Moores delivered gifts, decorations and a tree.

“When we pulled up with all of it, the mother came out of the house and just fell to her knees she was so grateful,” Lisa said.

Everybody who the project has helped expressed gratitude. Several have even volunteered at the Donation House to give back.

“For some, they’ve just come on a rough spot in their lives and just need a little help,” Shawn said. “So, we offer what we can.”

While there’s always a need for most items, the biggest demands are for children’s and smaller beds, particularly singles and twins.

“And bedding, especially blankets,” Lisa added. “That first cold snap, it really wiped us out of blankets.”

The Moores know they couldn’t offer this service without help from God and the community. So on Dec. 7, they’re hosting a celebration for Moore’s Giving More Project’s one-year anniversary. The event is 3-5 p.m. at the Marble Falls Church of Christ’s youth room (on the lower parking lot). The church is located at 711 Broadway in Marble Falls.

People interested in donating or supporting the project can contact the Moores through the Moore’s Giving More Project Facebook page or leave a message at the church at (830) 693-5575.

“It’s just been amazing how many people in this community have found out about us and donated,” Shawn said. “It’s the people who donate to us who make this all possible.”

daniel@thepicayune.com