Kent-based charity receives its own act of kindness

Ask and ye shall receive.

Or so it was for Kelly Carroll at R Place for Refuge, who asked the community for an “act of kindness” to help replace their burned-up truck and received a new one this week.

The Larson Auto Group of Tacoma this past week donated a 1994 Dodge Ram pick up truck to the Kent-based charity to allow them to continue their work.

“It’s white; it’s pretty,” said Carroll, who heads the organization.

R Place’s old truck, a 1980s model Ford F250, was destroyed in a fire Aug. 18. The blaze left the small charity, which serves hundreds of low-income, disaster-ravaged and displaced families without a vehicle to make its deliveries.

But the kindness did not stop there.

After picking up the new truck, Carroll said she was at a store in Kent and was recognized by someone who saw her photo in the Kent Reporter. The man asked about the new truck and Carroll told him the good news, but joked that the radio was broken.

With that, Carroll said, the man gave her $200 and told her to get a new stereo for the vehicle.

“And then he walked away,” she said with a slight laugh.

Carroll said the new truck is slightly larger then the previous one, has new tires and is “very comfortable.”

Because of the newer truck, Carroll said she is currently working to raise money for increased insurance costs as well as gas, but because of the kindness of the community, R Place’s work will carry on.

“It’s wonderful,” she said.

R. Place For Refuge is a Kent-based charity organization. R. Place is seeking donations, including school supplies, gas cards and other store gift cards. For more information, visit www.rplaceofrefuge.org or call Kelly carroll at 206-255-1178. R. Place is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible.