When the home of Onie Massey, a cherished former secretary of Pocola Elementary School, was declared unsafe, the small town of Pocola quickly mobilized to help. Massey served the school for 38 years and has lived in her current house for 15 years. Built by her father in the 1950s, the structure has fallen into disrepair, prompting officials to condemn it.
Community response led by local police
Derek Elliott, vice president of the Pocola Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 239, described the dire condition of Massey’s residence. “She doesn’t really have a true front door right now. She has very limited heating and air,” Elliott said. “The house is falling in. She always called all of us her kids, and she treated us like her kids. She’s a major pillar of the town.”
Recognizing the urgency, the Fraternal Order of Police has taken charge of a renovation project aimed at restoring Massey’s previous home, located nearby. Elliott emphasized the scale of the undertaking: “Anything and everything. This is going to be a very large project. It’s going to take a lot of hands‑on work, a lot of money. But we’re willing to do it.”
Faith and gratitude guide the effort
Massey expressed heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of support. “I was thinking, why is he telling me all of this? Surely it can’t be free. But I know, I pray the Lord. Hallelujah. I prayed that the Lord would show me a way to fix it,” she said. “I want them to know that anything that I could do to help them, just call me. Tell me about it.”
Volunteers are also working to secure temporary housing for Massey while the renovation proceeds. Work is slated to begin next week, with the goal of completing the project by early next year.
How to help
Community members who wish to contribute time, materials, or funds can contact the Pocola Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 239 via email at [email protected] or through their Facebook page.
This grassroots effort highlights the strong family‑oriented values and faith‑based spirit that define Pocola. By coming together to aid a longtime neighbor, residents demonstrate the power of local compassion and the importance of caring for one another.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
