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A military family lost everything to mold, twice, so the community gave them a home for the holidays

While Amanda Brewer's husband Josh was serving oversees, she and her six children were displaced multiple times this year because of mold in her Fort Belvoir home.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — Army wife Amanda Brewer and her six children were displaced multiple times this year because of mold in her Fort Belvoir home, while her husband Josh was serving oversees.

Brewer's family was put in a temporary home because of the mold.

"Our spouses are all serving the country, and they're willing to die for their country," Brewer said. "We should all, at the very minimum, be able to have a safe home." 

Brewer's temporary home also had to be remediated for mold three times. And it was't just material items that were lost, but memories that can never be rewritten. 

"It's really hard," Brewer said. "My kiddo was in the backseat of the car bawling, because he couldn't figure out what he wanted for his birthday, because he's lost so much stuff." 

At Virginia's Fort Belvoir, desperation created a bond. Army wives Brewer, Raven Roman and Jessica Carmean, and Navy spouses Kristi Wright and Ashley Fischer, said they were so frustrated they felt they had no choice but to create a housing advocacy group.

RELATED: Patriot Guard Riders grant veteran's dream of raising his father's flag

"Mold [spreads] when you move it," Brewer said. "Spores kind of go everywhere. Every step that they take, every time they bounce, etc., then there's more and more spores going everywhere."

RELATED: ‘Are we not worth safe houses?’ | Military spouses create their own advocacy group amid concerns about mold remediation

Amanda's friends, the WUSA9 Impact Team and dozens of volunteers decided to transform the Brewers' house into a home, so they can make new memories.

Credit: Amanda Brewer
Amanda's post after her


WUSA9's Impact Team would like to thank the following:

Coast to Coast Interiors 
Susan Bourassa
Michelle Alonso
Heather Reis
Amber Sprouse
Megan Eldridge
Carla Olivo
Jada Green
Jen Wharton
Danielle Eramo
Mrs. Arias

The Invisible Hand

Bob’s Discount Furniture
Corinne Stone
Alex Popp
German Perdomo
Augustin Perdomo
Chris Vattelana

Mission BBQ, Alexandria, VA
Carlos Romero
Amy Galloway

Home Depot of Hybla Valley
Ganesh Raju

Pillar Church of Woodlawn
Brian Collison, Pastor (former US Army)
Justin Budzynski (USAF)
Johnathon Baggett (USAR Chaplain Candidate)
Thornton Redman (USAF Spouse)
Katie Gritzmaker (USAF)
Jared Gritzmaker (USAF Spouse)

Military Housing Advocacy Network
Darlena Brown

Brewer Family Friends
Amanda Brewer
Kristi Wright
Ashley Fischer
Jessica Carmean
Raven Roman

The Interior ReDesign and Staging Association

Caroline Hart of Welcoming ReDesign

Preferred Staging
Monica Murphy
Terri Langdon
Libby Paulson

McNair Bishop of Room by Room

Lynn Woloschel of Interiors by Lyn

Dawn Frattarelli of Town and Country Movers 

Erica O'Neal of the Tamara Kucik Team/Towerhill Realty   

Heather Reis of Keller WIlliams, Falls Church, VA

Kristie McComb

Friends of Michelle Alonoso:
Nicole Mel Linc
Jen Siciliano
Michele Darwin
Michele Crone
Dina Raduechel Schumer
Alison McLean
Nancy Garcia
Faith Gabriel Boettger
Valerie Landis Burke
Marjorie Oakley Rich
Sandy Hodges
Carole Heller
Sue Wronsky

Download the brand new WUSA9 app here.

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