When Gregg Ward and Lewanna Diehl's trailer in Oquawka, Illinois caught fire in May of 2013, they were left homeless.
For more than four months, the couple lived out of a tent in their backyard. Click here to see the conditions they lived in.
Immediately after the fire, Steve Henshaw, a friend of the couple for more than 20 years, reached out to local organizations, hoping someone could assist them.
In a matter of days, help arrived.
"We just all came together, worked together and raised money locally," Lynne Haase said, the Administrator of the Henderson County Health Department who began assisting the couple months prior to the fire. "There were some hoarding and mental health issues and we wanted to know what we could do to help."
In total, members of the community raised more than $28,000 for the couple, Haase said.
One Family One Purpose, a non-profit organization that builds homes for families in need throughout the United States, constructed the couple's new home from the ground up. Click here to watch them build the home.
"I thought it was a joke at one time," Diehl said as her eyes began to water. "All of a sudden, the house went up."
Volunteers said once the foundation was poured, the house was built in just five days. On Friday, September 26, 2014, the home was dedicated to Ward and Diehl.
"I'll never be able to thank them enough," Diehl said as tears fell down her face.
As volunteers and the couple gathered together Friday, October 3, it was clear that new friendships were formed.
"This is a house built from love," Ward said, as he stood outside and looked at his new home. "This is amazing."
