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50 Years, 50 Families: Parks Family

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Sep 25, 2008 5:33 pm US/Eastern

50 Years, 50 Families: Parks Family

More: Contest Details | Read The Rules | 50 Years, 50 Families

Winning Families: Winner's Library
PENN HILLS (KDKA) ― It has been a long six months for a local family whose home was destroyed in an electrical fire, especially for their teenage daughter who is autistic.

The parents are doing everything they can to make life normal, including driving their kids to their old school bus stops before work every morning.

But regardless, the Parks family chooses to look ahead, not behind. They're the final recipients of the 50 Years, 50 Families program.

The Parks family enjoys talking about their day over dinner, but during dinner on April 10 fire struck their Penn Hills home of 20 years.

Firefighters did what they could, but the fire had already spread through the walls.

"It was very, very devastating," said Betsy Parks. "It was very hard for my daughter too, because she's used to structure, being autistic."

The damage was so extensive, it would have cost too much to repair.

"We moved there about one year or so after we were married and that's the only home as a family we've ever known," said Richard Parks.

Construction starts in about two weeks and they'll have a modular home by the end of October.

In the meantime, they've been living in an apartment in Verona. But with only one bedroom, things are tight.

The furniture is used, given by friends and family and there's no kitchen table.

"It's cramped, but you have to look at positive side because it brings closeness," said Parks.

Betsy and Richard are the final winners of $3,000 in furniture from Roomful Express.

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