A military family in Menifee are counting their blessings this holiday season. After having a series of setbacks transitioning out of the United States Marine Corps, SMC Staff Sgt. Willis Howard Jones and his family are putting their lives back together with the help of organizations like, Furnishing Hope. 

On Saturday, November 21, a team from a non-profit called Furnishing Hope brought a truckload of new furniture and decorations to the Jones’s home. A military organization called Semper Fi at Camp Pendleton heard of the families struggles and the organization stepped in to help the veteran and his family. 

Jones and his wife moved to Menifee from North Carolina this summer in an effort to better their family’s life. The couple has four children under the age of 14. Although they found a home to live in they couldn’t afford furniture. Their children were sleeping on blow up mattresses and dinners were served sitting on the floor. 

Furnishing Hope is a non-project based in Orange County. Since 2003, the organization has been helping give people a step up to get back on their feet. 

The project helps people by providing items like a bed, clean sheets for a good night sleep. They also stock up the kitchen with the essential items to prepare a meal, a dining room table where they can share those meals, and comfortable furniture for relaxing at the end of the day. 

“We wanted to have the opportunity to set up this wounded warriors home before Thanksgiving and put some joy in their life,” said Beth Phillips, founder of Furnishing Hope. 

Mayor of Menifee Scott Mann stopped by to meet the Jones family. 

“Menifee really cares about the military,” said Mann. “We don’t just talk about supporting our troops, we take action.” 

The Jones family is getting back on their feet. Staff Sgt. Jones recently finished truck driving school and his wife landed a job as a loan officer, but the couple was still unable to provide their children furniture to live on. 

“We are so grateful for this blessing,” said the wife, Gaby Jones. “We just needed a step up a little helping hand.  It was so hard to not have beds for our children or a table to sit at for dinner.” 

“We feel like we are finally getting two steps forward instead of two steps backward,” said Gaby Jones. 

Staff Sgt. Jones said he doesn’t like to ask for handouts and appreciates Furnishing Hope helping his family. 

“My wife loves it and since it makes her happy it makes me happy,” said Staff Sgt. Jones. 

Click the following link to learn more about Furnishing Hope, http://www.furnishinghope.org/