"Your foreclosure is canceled" is the best sentence Sandy Sneller has ever heard.
She and her husband, Bob, read it in a recent letter from her mortgage company after dozens of friends, family, veterans organizations, businesses, civic groups and helpful strangers contributed a significant amount of money to fulfill their past-due obligations.
From snacks at the Encouraging Through Caring breast cancer support group's Relay for Life tent to wreaths and decorations for the Boost Barbecue auction, Bob and Sandy Sneller have been giving of themselves to this community for decades. That also includes the 24 years Bob served in the U.S. Air Force and the Missouri Army National Guard.
"Bob and I have always been givers," Sandy said. "This time we had to be receivers. We want to pour our hearts out in thanks for what they did for us."
The Snellers had faced a series of adversities that set them back both financially and emotionally. Like many people, they felt isolated, embarrassed and unaware there were people willing to help.
When the notice came their beloved Holts Summit home of 11 years would be auctioned on the courthouse steps, Sandy said her bent-knee prayers directed her to her friend, Pat Kerr. Within two weeks from that phone call, enough response from Facebook and email posts about the Sneller situation had reached the special account at Home Savings Bank and the donation website gofundme.com to avoid the foreclosure.
Even the Snellers' grandchildren, who rode their bikes from their home a block away, gave all of their piggy-bank change to their grandparents after seeing their situation on a television news program.
Home Savings Bank "is the veterans' bank," Sandy said. She has worked with Vice President Rosie Verslues for many years on several community activities, including Operation Bugle Boy annual events and the building of a home for wounded U.S. Marine Tyler Huffman. After seeing and helping with the bank's involvement in so many community fundraisers and special events, Sandy said she appreciated it all the more when the bank set up the account to help save their home.
The centennial bank has supported good community causes for 117 years, said bank manager Jack Curtit.
"We don't search them out, but when they become available, we want to help," Curtit said.
Unlike organizations and events, which have volunteers to ask for support, veterans' families rarely realize they can ask for help, Kerr said.
In addition to the immediate monetary gifts, the Snellers also are receiving help for financial sustainability, money management, legal navigation and veterans services. Since both are living on fixed incomes from Social Security, they were hit hard when multiple medical bills accumulated rapidly.
"I've had 27 surgeries in the last ten years," said Sandy, who has survived cancer twice. And Bob had three surgeries in 2014 alone.
Just as a cancer patient needs a supporter who has traveled the same road, veterans often need an experienced advisor to lead the way.
"We try to use all methods to educate folks," about what help is available, Kerr said. "They don't need to recreate the wheel."
In the same way, those with the financial or technical means who want to help others can know the clients and their situation have been vetted before the call for help goes out, she said.
"There's a lot of need out there," Kerr said. "There also are many organizations within the community to provide different resources. There are places to go to get help but it's important not to wait until the last minute."
As for the Snellers, they intend to continue their generous lifestyle of time and energy even more so because of the community's generous gift of funds.
"We had the greatest excitement," Sandy said. "We didn't know who many of these people were. Their generosity is so overwhelming."
"It's like being diagnosed with a disease and then receiving a cure."