North Texas Church Gifts Single Mom with Home for the Holidays

This Christmas will be one Barbara Moore and her daughters will never forget.

Having spent the last year living in a motel, the family received the gift of a new home Thursday, courtesy of the congregation at Calvary Church in Irving.

"It's truly a blessing. It has been a struggle, but I thank God that he's blessed us to get through it. I hung in there," Moore said.

The announcement was made after Moore shared her emotional story during Christmas Eve services. After losing her job, she lost her home and all her belongings. She was forced to move into an Irving motel with her daughters, Destiny and Alyse. The trio shared one room without a kitchen.

Moore said it has been hard "being over there sometimes, and not having enough food."

Now, thanks to the generosity of the congregation, the family has a new, fully-furnished apartment.

"Oh, wow!" Moore said with a smile, as she opened the door to her new home.

Calvary Church Pastor Ben Dailey said most of the congregation did not know the family had been living in a motel. When he heard Moore's story in November, he knew the church would answer the call.

"The wonderful thing about our church is that we have people we call 'kingdom builders,' and they're people looking for opportunities to share the love of God through their generosity," said Dailey.

In addition to their new home, the family also received enough money to cover groceries for the next month. Moore, who now works two jobs, said she's in a better position to raise her daughters.

With only a few hours between receiving the keys to her new home and Christmas Day, Moore said the rest of her Christmas Eve would be very busy.

"I've got to go to the (motel) room and start moving stuff in," she said. "And most definitely cook."