Woman surprised with place to live

By ANDREW POTTER, TIMES-REPUBLICAN
Karla Mack now has a home and hope thanks to the Marshalltown community and a man on a giving mission.

Left with her two kids in Marshalltown by a boyfriend who changed his mind about living with her in Wisconsin a month ago, Mack had no money and no way to get back to California where she was from.

She has worked at Wal-Mart and stayed at the House of Compassion for the past month before being surprised with an apartment to live in Wednesday.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I really appreciate it.”

The idea of getting her a place to live came about from Armand Young, who is walking across the country helping people out.

Mack’s first month of rent for her new apartment was donated by the apartment manager Jim Clawson.

“You don’t mind helping a few people,” Clawson said. “I’ve needed help in my lifetime too.”

Mack now has a place for her and her children, Kevin Magee, 13, and Kammie Magee, 9, to live in.

“It’s wonderful,” Mack said. “I never thought people would do this for you.”

When she walked into her new apartment with waiting cameras and people ready to present her with donations, she didn’t know what was going on.

“I thought I was in trouble,” she joked.

Mack said the House of Compassion has helped her this last month.

“They helped me get Christmas gifts for my kids,” she said.

Donations have been pouring in for Mack after Young spread the news of what he is doing.

Mack also received beds donated by Sit ‘N’ Sleep, food coupons from Subway, and a free family portrait from Apgar Photography Studio.

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Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com