The household house was greater than only a home to Kaley Petersen —it was the muse of her life, constructed and held collectively by her father, her largest supporter.
After her mother and father separated when she was solely 3 years outdated, her dad turned her main caregiver and fixed supply of consolation.
He was the one who made childhood joyful with forts and laughter, and later, the one who opened the door when she wanted assist as a younger mom at 18.
Through the years, the person who had raised her with regular love stepped into one other function: a loyal grandfather who adored Kaley’s three kids.
He was the guts of the household house, and his sudden loss of life left a gap that Kaley nonetheless struggles to fill.
“My dad was all the time there for me,” Kaley, 23, advised PEOPLE. “So once I misplaced him, it was like I misplaced greater than a dad. I misplaced my finest pal. I misplaced the one assist I actually have.”
The household house susceptible to foreclosures
On December 17, tragedy struck when Kaley’s father died from diabetic ketoacidosis.
The situation developed after his diabetes went untreated as a result of he couldn’t afford medical health insurance.
In the course of grieving, Kaley found her father had greater than $200,000 in debt.
To make issues worse, she discovered that the household house was now at risk of foreclosures.
Except she will elevate about $30,000 in missed mortgage funds and authorized charges by September 3, she dangers dropping the place on the middle of each milestone in her life.
“That’s the house I took my first steps in. That’s the house I grew up in. I took my firstborn there. It’s the place he took his final breath,” says Kaley. “It’s the final piece I really feel like I’ve of my dad.”
Baking turns into a lifeline
Kaley additionally found her love of baking as a baby within the household house.
With no web or tv on the distant property, she usually spent her free time within the kitchen whereas her father labored lengthy hours.
Experimenting with substances turned her inventive outlet, and she or he discovered pleasure in treating her dad to her baked items.
After his passing, she returned to the oven for consolation and survival.
Decided to avoid wasting the household house, Kaley arrange a small desk on the finish of her avenue and held a bake sale fundraiser.
What started as a small effort quickly grew into one thing greater.
She later created Woojis Bakery, named after the playful nickname her father gave her, “Wooji.”
With a refurbished horse trailer and a surfboard signal painted “WOOJIS,” she turned her ardour right into a touring bake store.
One loaf, one pastry at a time, she started working towards the $30,000 wanted to avoid wasting her father’s home.
A viral story of energy
What began as a easy bake sale fundraiser rapidly turned a viral story.
Kaley posted a video of her bakery on TikTok in Could, hoping to attract extra prospects.
To her shock, 1000’s responded with messages of assist, asking the place she could be promoting subsequent.
Quickly, she was promoting out commonly, and her inspiring story caught the eye of the native information.
Strangers stepped in to assist her trigger in surprising methods. One girl donated lights to brighten her trailer.
One other despatched a stand mixer from South Carolina after studying about her journey.
Even those that couldn’t give financially left phrases of encouragement, reminding her that she wasn’t alone.
Nonetheless, Kaley admits that the lack of her father feels heavy. “My dad was actually my solely supporter,” she says.
The group’s kindness, particularly from fathers who remark that they’re happy with her, helps her really feel related to the type of assist she misplaced.
Combating to maintain the household house alive
At the moment, Kaley’s menu consists of apple cinnamon swirls, crumble loaves, banana bread, cookies, and her hottest lemon blueberry bread with glaze.
Every merchandise she sells brings her nearer to her purpose of retaining the household house.
Alongside her bakery, Kaley launched a GoFundMe marketing campaign that has raised over $13,000 towards the $30,000 wanted.
Even when she succeeds in saving the house from foreclosures, she is aware of she is going to nonetheless have to sustain with $2,000 month-to-month mortgage funds. But for her, the hassle is price it.
“My dad’s home was all the time the one I’d come house to,” says Peterson. “I simply wish to be sure that I preserve this house perpetually and develop my entire household there for generations to come back.”
An inspiring story of affection and resilience
For Kaley, the household house is excess of bricks and partitions.
It’s the place that holds her father’s reminiscence, her childhood milestones, and the beginning of her personal journey as a mom.
Via her bake sale fundraiser and viral story, she exhibits the world an inspiring story of willpower and love.
Watch Kaley’s inspiring journey to avoid wasting her household house as her story is shared on the information:
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